A Short History
The Salisbury EcoHub Alliance was set up in May 2022. Originally a loose collection of individuals, it has now evolved into a registered charity with a membership comprising local individuals, groups, and organisations uniting together to make its vision a reality.
From the Beginning
The Salisbury EcoHub Alliance came out of an open meeting hosted by Salisbury Democracy Alliance and Salisbury RSA Fellows Network in May 2022. This meeting was called to discuss how Salisbury could most effectively address the climate and environmental crises.
The meeting included members of various other local voluntary groups including Salisbury Transition City, Salisbury Community Energy, Climate Circus (mobile climate change exhibition), XR Salisbury, COGS (Cycling Opportunities Group
Salisbury), Pantry Partnership, Share Salisbury, and Salisbury Repair Cafe – each active in their own way.
The consensus from that meeting was that we would benefit greatly from having a shared premises to link our efforts and act as a one-stop shop for interaction with the public, and the term EcoHub was coined to refer to this.
Progress in 2022
During our first seven months we followed a clear and methodical plan and achieved significant progress in the following regards:.
1. Defining our aims and agreeing a clear Mission Statement.
2. Setting up a steering group and producing a basic leaflet.
3. Setting up a benefit concert to provide initial funds.
4. Launching ourselves with a regular public presence in Salisbury Market.
5. Researching other successful Environment Centres and establishing links with potential funders.
6. Establishing positive relations with Salisbury City Council and investigating possible premises.
7. Providing energy-saving advice in the cost of living crisis
8. Applying for CIO charity status.
For further details of this, click HERE.
Forward in 2023
Having applied on January 17th to be registered by the Charity Commission as an Association Model Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), we expected to receive a decision around the end of February 2023. This proved to be over-optimistic. In fact we heard nothing until the start of June, which was frustrating because without charity status we could not approach landlords about property, pursue funding applications, or even open our own bank account.
Despite being held up in those directions, we continued with our weekly market stalls, and building up our public profile. We steadily increased our membership of both individuals and local groups, and produced a series of Bite-size Climate Science leaflets which have been very well received. We also researched, drafted and adopted a safeguarding policy.
After a little further correspondence with the Charity Commission, our CIO status was confirmed on 4th July 2023.