Jessica came to study at the University, the North Yorkshire BTCV office didn’t have a vacancy for a LTV (Long Term Volunteer) and someone suggested Hollybush. Jed Bultitude, the Senior Field Officer ie Manager, wrote back enthusiastically immediately; I guess applicants with six years prior volunteering experience around school and college didn’t apply that often.
My first Hollybush task was to drive for the Hollyvols, footpath work at Oakwell Hall Country Park, I drove right up to the site, across what is now woodland.
One of my favourite projects was building the bike shed. I saw a smaller elsewhere, took the project through all the official permissions, rounded up the cash, sourced all the components and then built it over 4 or 5 weekends with any volunteers who I could persuade to lend a hand. Everyone got a huge sense of achievement. I remember my then 5 year old daughter showing people from a Permaculture course how to surform rough corners off timber. Best bike shed in Yorkshire, and I get to use it every day I’m in.
If you were to leave Hollybush tomorrow – what would you take with you? A copy of this booklet. Working with the Friends on this project has refreshed many memories, and reminded me of some of the important things that the Centre has achieved over four decades. I’ve now met some of the “names” from before I joined in 1986.
Looking back, a key stage was around 2000 when there was a restructuring across BTCV with nine directors appointed in England to cover both BTCV Charity and BTCV Enterprises. Uniquely Yorkshire’s Director, Mark Gibson, was ex Enterprises. A can do, entrepreneurial spirit was expected and through further education college links we were able to set up what became the Hollybush Project, and run NVQs(vocational course in conservation skills) which paved the way with most staff holding teaching qualifications for the short course programme today. We took on minimum wage trainees and part-time admin which developed into the first volunteer coordinator role. At times I described it as surfing ever bigger waves on a disintegrating surfboard.
Over the decades staff, voluntary staff, volunteers and funders have shown huge dedication and commitment to the cause. On many occasions the Hollybush spirit has encouraged many people to go that extra mile for the sake of the “cause”. There have been difficult times, there have been very sad times and fortunately many good times. The TCV strap line since 2012 has been “join in have fun”, and my rule number one has for decades been “you will have fun”, otherwise why would people come back for more ?
Most days there is something unexpected. In my “new” role as Business Development Manager for the North of England it is all about spotting opportunities, making connections and presenting the case for how this amazing organisation can deliver great results.
John Preston Volunteer BTCV 1980-86 LTV 1986-7 Community Programme Doncaster 1987-8 VO 1988-9 Cookson Training Officer 1989-91 Leeds PO 1991-97 County Manager, latterly Operations Leader 1997-2018
Written by John Preston