About BIT
The Bollington Initiative Trust (BIT) is a registered charity. Our purpose is to helps to preserve Bollington’s unique environment and heritage, for the benefit of our local community.
The Trust works hard acquiring and managing land and buildings which may otherwise be lost or developed for private sector housing, and saving places for local people to use and enjoy. We have been in existence since 2005 and, whilst we have worked on many plans and concepts, we currently have three ongoing projects in the local vicinity:
Tinkers Clough, Turner’s Lodge and the Water Street Centre
The Bollington Initiative Trust is run by a Board of dedicated Trustees who bring their skills and knowledge to support the Trust’s work. We are very grateful to have volunteers who help us maintain some of the Trust’s properties. If you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer please go to our volunteering page
Our Board of Trustees
Will Spinks - Chair
Will was previously the Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for the University of Manchester. He headed the administration of the University and provided advice and guidance to the President and Vice-Chancellor. Prior to this he worked for Loughborough University after initially pursuing a career in ICI, Zeneca and AstraZeneca. He is a Non-Executive Director of a large pension fund and chairs two other local charities.
Patrick Hunter - Treasurer
Patrick previously ran a consultancy business and is now a director within an international facilities management company. Patrick joined the Trust as the treasurer in 2020 and leads on all financial matters.
Graham Barrow - Trustee
Graham had a career of over 40 years in the fields of rural and heritage planning and management in central and local government and in the academic and consultancy sectors. He has particular experience with heritage matters and with the involvement of local communities in sustainable tourism. Graham helped to establish BIT in Bollington some 15 years ago.
Jan Flynn - Trustee
Jan comes from a commercial background in the private sector. She is an experienced marketeer and uses these skills to support BIT. Jan also a Chair of a domestic abuse charity and a trustee on the board of a third charity, and a Non-Executive Director. She also running her own marketing consultancy, a healthcare education company and is an executive coach.
Kate Gooding, OBE - Trustee
Kate has worked with Local Authorities; schools and early years settings across the UK. Prior to this she had several roles, including playgroup leader, Head of an Adult Education Centre, Headteacher: and strategic lead for a Local Authority’s Early Years and Childcare Service. She also worked for the National College for School Leadership. In addition to being a BIT trustee, is currently Chair of ‘Bollington Live’ magazine.
Lester Humphreys - Trustee
Lester has been a trustee since 2008. A retired Chartered Surveyor whose career included Central Government and then for over 20 years a senior management role in the Co-operative Group Property Division. He is also joint chair of the KRIV conservation volunteers.
Mick Wilkins - Secretary
Mick was once able to drive a London Underground train. However, has spent most of his career in general management and Human Resources for a number of companies. He has lived in Bollington since 1992, and is particularly interested in environmental issues
Peter Skinner - Board Advisor & Management Committee Member
Peter is an architect with over 40 years of experience in construction. His architectural practice takes on many different challenges, providing services to a wide variety of clients. Peter’s approach to design seeks to combine careful conservation of the earth’s resources with a knowledgeable respect for our architectural heritage. He designs new buildings, extensions, undertake refurbishments and work generally for the conservation of historic buildings. Peter also designs furniture and stained glass for projects when required. Clients past and present include property developers, Building Trusts, Local Authorities, the National Trust, English Heritage, churches and private individuals.
Pauline Snelson _ Board Advisor & Management Committee Member
Pauline grew up in Handforth and loved to escape to the hills of the Peak District. She previously worked as a children's NHS Speech and Language Therapist across rural North Derbyshire. In an earlier metropolitan life, she worked as an editor in educational book publishing.
Pauline is also Chair of the Trustees of Bollington Preschool.