The Oaks Meadow trustees have a five year strategic plan. It was first published January 2021 then reviewed and updated summer 2022. This was a really positive exercise because we had achieved far more than we could have possibly imagined when we started out.

Thanks to our fantastic supporters we are more than on track with Phases 1 and 2, which relate to the woodland and garden spaces, and play area.

Our priority now is to get those phases complete and the meadow officially open. We also need to make sure we cope with the challenges of managing and maintaining what we have created so far and encourage lots of people onto the meadow.

Our longer term Phase 3 ambition is to build a village hall type building on Oaks Meadow and we thank the 81 households who completed our survey (summary and full results). You shared lots of enthusiasm and innovative ideas as well as plenty of food for thought.

We updated the strategic plan to reflect the Trustees agreement to postpone a decision on what to do next until the end of 2023 in order to focus our energy on Phases 1 and 2 and learn more about how people use the meadow in practice. We also want to keep an eye on how community venues are faring after the Covid pandemic… and of course we are all facing a gloomy economic outlook at moment which may have an impact. But the village hall is a long term ambition and nothing is ruled in or out.

The strategic plan itself is a way of formalising the trustees’ shared vision, ambition and values and where we would like to be by the end of 2025. As a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Oaks Meadow has a specific set of objectives approved by the Charities Commission and the plan is important in detailing how they will be met.

It’s also a handy document for potential funders and others. It tells the story of how Oaks Meadow came about, outlines the community benefits in terms of things like health and wellbeing, education and learning, reducing isolation and loneliness. It also outlines our key values - being community led and enhancing the natural environment.

The updated plan now reflects masses of progress and pays tribute to our supporters and partners which include companies, parish, district and county councils, companies, community organisations and funders like the National Lottery Community Fund and Viridor Credits and, of course, people like you!

Sara Waterer (Trustee)

The Oaks Meadow Five-year Strategic Plan covers the period January 2021 to December 2025. 

Oaks Meadow Five-year Strategic Plan (updated Nov 2023)