The Secret Garden
Kemptown

​We're looking to invite new trustees onto the Board in time for the opening of the garden this Spring. Applications welcome from across our community - no previous trustee experience necessary. 

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What Trustees Do

Trustees help set the vision, direction, and priorities for the garden each year. They ensure we meet our legal and financial responsibilities; support fundraising and community engagement; and act as advocates and ambassadors for the charity. Trustees also contribute vital practical skills — e.g. administration, events, social media activity, or direct service delivery.

 

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. You don’t need previous

trustee experience — just enthusiasm, commitment and a willingness to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in. Skills in finance, governance, communications, fundraising, or local networking and arts are especially valuable.

 

Commitment

We’d need you to commit approx. 6-10 hours per month, although this varies across the year.

You’ll attend trustee meetings, plus occasional events, and need to be willing to get involved hands-on when the garden is open to the public as needed.

 

Why Join Us?

This is a great opportunity to make a direct impact in your community. It will also offer the chance to gain valuable skills and experience, and you’ll be working alongside committed and passionate volunteers who live locally. You’ll help shape the future of a growing charity.

 

�� Interested?

Contact us at info@secretgardenkemptown.co.uk for an informal chat.

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Anne Boddington, Trustee

Educated as an architect, urbanist and cultural geographer, Anne has 35-years’ experience in higher education and 20 in senior leadership, most recently as PVC for Research, Business & Innovation.

Her experience includes strategic and organisational design, business planning/finance, quality assurance in teaching and research, career development and international partnerships. She has worked for the UK Government’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), with museums and the cultural sector and as a strategic research reviewer for UKRI.

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Caroline Cowley, Trustee

Caroline Cowley is a freelance interior designer and project manager. She grew up locally and was educated at Lancing College before studying American and Commonwealth Arts at Exeter University, spending a year of her degree course studying photography at UCSC. Following graduation she combined her practical and creative skills to set up a team of muralists working on private commissions in London and the U.S., which developed into an interior design consultancy. 

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Stephen Neiman, Trustee and Treasurer

Stephen Neiman set up The Antony Dale Trust with Gavin Henderson. Throughout his career, Stephen has been involved in major arts projects, both nationally and internationally. He has played a leading role in several charities in Brighton & Hove, including: Founder and Trustee of The Old Market Trust, Chair of the Brighton Youth Orchestra and Regency Society and President of the Brighton Soirée and Hove Rotary Clubs. He is also Secretary of the Hanover Band Foundation.

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Vaughan Rees OBE, Trustee

Vaughan Rees was private secretary to the minister for the arts in Whitehall. On leaving Whitehall he was appointed secretary to the Corporation, the Royal Albert Hall, and in retirement he has engaged in a number of public service/voluntary activities. including becoming a Martlet's Champion and the deputy Chair of the Kemptown Society. 

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Talia Rodgers, Trustee 

Talia Rodgers is the Head of Higher Education at Digital Theatre. From 1991-2015 she was Publisher for Literature, Theatre and Performance Studies at Routledge. In the mid-1990s Talia managed the launch of the third edition of the Arden Shakespeare, and also the journal 'Performance Research’. She is also a trustee of Flute Theatre: Shakespeare for Inclusive Audiences. 

 

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