TDRA Appeal for Trustees
Letter to Members of TDRA and Residents of Tenterden
March 2025
The trustees of TDRA have regrettably reached the conclusion that, without a significant increase in the number of trustees, it may be necessary to consider winding down the charity. This letter therefore sets out the current position of TDRA and seeks a response from individuals who are prepared to consider a trustee role for the coming years.
TDRA in its current guise was formed in 1987, and at its peak had a membership of over 1,000, and a committee of twelve active trustees. Over the years the Association has been able to make a contribution to the significant issues of the day; the opening of Tesco’s, the development of Tent1, and the Town Council spending plans for the Tent1 windfall funds are good examples.
In the current year we have 200 member households, and, due to a change in personal circumstances, the number of active trustees has reduced to four. Whilst we have managed to deal with the issues in front of us, which include a detailed assessment of potential development sites in Tenterden, we have fallen short in member engagement in terms of newsletters and opportunities to meet at coffee mornings. Whilst there are no immediate financial pressures, the level of donations will need to rise to meet the operational expenses.
We have therefore concluded that, longer term, this position is not sustainable.
Trustees are expected to attend regularly monthly meetings, spend time in engaging with the issues of the town (at present largely the emergence of new planning applications and related topics) and contribute to the general administration of the Association. We would ask individuals interested in a trustee role to contact us in the next few weeks by e-mail at chairman@tdra.co.uk. We are then happy to arrange discussions with one or more of the existing trustees to take matters forward.
The TDRA AGM is scheduled for 7.30pm on Wednesday 21st May at EC30 (adjacent to Ivy Court surgery). Hopefully with a number of new trustees lined up we can set an agenda to revive the Association in 2025.
TDRA Committee of Trustees
