Candidate Information
We are pleased you are considering nominating yourself as a Candidate for the Box Moor Trust Trustee Elections 2025. On this page you will find details we would like to share with you about the process, guidance from the Charity Commission, and, our Nomination Form. Please ensure you thoroughly read all information provided.
A message from our Chair
Dear Prospective Trustee,
Thank you for expressing an interest in joining the Box Moor Trust as a Trustee. We are seeking four dedicated individuals to join our Board and contribute their time, skills, and knowledge to help us continue providing quality open green spaces for the enjoyment of the local community and the public at large. We are particularly looking for people that have experience in ecology, estate management, fundraising and sponsorship, and engaging with diverse and local communities. We welcome people from all walks of life and all backgrounds and would love to see you apply irrespective of any differences.
This is an exciting opportunity for those who live in Hemel Hempstead or Bovingdon and have a passion for protecting and enhancing the Box Moor Trust estate. As a Trustee, you will play a vital role in leading our charity, setting strategic direction, ensuring good governance, and helping us meet our charitable objectives.
The Box Moor Trust has a rich history dating back over four centuries, with its first parcel of land gifted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1594. Today, we sustainably manage approximately 500 acres of diverse landscapes, including the River Bulbourne (a chalk stream), commons, ancient woodland, SSSIs, chalk grasslands, moors, and restored watercress beds, now a valuable nature reserve. We are also home to three local sports clubs and are proud to be a carbon-negative organisation, sequestering around 18 tonnes of carbon annually through our operations and land management practices.
Our Trustees work alongside a dedicated team of around 13 staff and 200 volunteers. Our conservation efforts include grazing with resident Belted Galloway cattle, rare breed Norfolk Horn sheep, and recently introduced Old English goats. As a charity, we provide environmental education, community engagement opportunities, and events designed to help local people connect with nature and understand agriculture in an increasingly urbanised world.
There are around 100,000 eligible voters, who will be able to take part in this election, and will help decide the next Trustees to manage this fantastic local charity that delivers for the town. The Box Moor Trust will support your campaign by sharing your aims on our website, social media channels, publications, and local media. While campaigning requires effort, the rewards of being a Trustee are truly fulfilling.
As a Trustee, you will help shape the future of our land and community. We face challenges, particularly in sustaining our income while meeting the needs of a growing population, but our mission to protect green spaces, engage the community and promote biodiversity remains as vital as ever.
If you have the passion and time to contribute, we encourage you to stand. If you would like to learn more or discuss the role further, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
Best regards,
Patrick
The Nomination and Election Process
All candidates must complete and return a Nomination and Sponsorship Paper – whereby 10 eligible electors from the Trusts ‘Area of Benefit’ propose, second and assent the nomination. We will need to verify you, and all sponsors, reside within the Area of Benefit, and are on the electoral role, before we can name you as a eligible candidate for election. Please print a copy of the Nomination and Sponsorship Paper below, you will need to attach the completed paper to your nomination form.
A Nomination and Sponsorship Paper can be downloaded here.
A map of the Box Moor Trust’s Area of Benefit can be downloaded here.
Secondly, you will need to make a few declarations, in line with Charity Commission rules and guidance, to certify you are able to stand as a Charity Trustee (this will include certification that you are not disqualified from being a Charity Trustee due to any reason included in the Charity Commission Disqualification Reasons Table). We insist you read through ‘The Essential Trustee’ and ‘5 minute guides’– all informative guidance written by the Charity Commission – outlining what you need to know, and what you need to do and what being a Charity Trustee involves.
Thirdly, we would like to know a little bit about you and why you would like to be a Trustee of the Box Moor Trust. We require two short summaries – one of no more than 30 words and one of no more than 100 words. We also require a more detailed description of your Manifesto if elected; what you would bring to the Trust, up to 250 words. We will use both your descriptions and Manifesto as part of the election and advertising process across the Trust’s media platforms.
Lastly, we will need an image of you. We ask that it is a recent image; your image will be used on our election material.
You will need to ensure your form is completed in full and the necessary documents are uploaded.
The Trust will accept nominations made on or before the 31st of July 2025. We will inform you of the success of your nomination once we have assessed your eligibility to stand as a Trustee of the Box Moor Trust.
The electorate is comprised of all residents, listed on the electoral register, residing within the Box Moor Trust’s Area of Benefit. Each member of the electorate will be able to place a vote for each of the 4 vacant Trustee positions. (Please note that you will not be eligible to vote if you are standing for election as a Trustee)
During the election process you will be responsible for your own canvasing and vote generation. All candidates must act with integrity and treat each other with respect at all times.
The election will be held over the course of one week beginning Wednesday 8th October 2025 and ending on Wednesday 15th October 2025. The electorate will be able to cast votes in person at a polling station at the Box Moor Trust Centre, London Road, HP1 2RE, or online via the Trust’s website. The polling station will be open from 8am – 8pm.
Votes will be counted; the four candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected to serve as Trustees for the Box Moor Trust and may have the opportunity to serve for 10 years before the need for re-election.
Please contact us using the details below should you require a paper copy of the application pack. We can make one available for collection at The Box Moor Trust Centre, or send one to your postal address.
The Box Moor Trust’s election process is determined by The Charities (Boxmoor Estate, Hemel Hempstead) Order 2000, “The Scheme”.
The Box Moor Trust reserves the right to change or suspend the nomination and election process at any time.