Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome hold first meeting… and you can be a Friend too

Herne Hill Velodrome's phoenix-like regeneration has taken another important step with the setting up of the Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome a new body to represent the views of the velodrome's users and the local residents.

The Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome is a new part of the Herne Hill Charitable Trust set up earlier this year to oversee the renewal and refurbishment of the velodrome; it's role is to give both users and local resident a voice within the trust - the Friends will have a representative on the Trust Board in fact at their inaugural meeting last week local resident, Phil Wright - described as a Herne Hill addict – was elected as a non-board member of the trust.

Like the friends groups associated with hospitals and other institutions the Friends of the Herne Hill Velodrome is all about tapping in to the network of local support for the velodrome from local residents who may not be cyclists but who appreciate the importance of having an amenity like the velodrome on their doorstep. As well as giving local residents a voice the Friends is also about giving the velodrome's  user's a chance to be heard by the charitable trust that now runs the velodrome.

The role of the Friends is an important one in supporting the Trust to create a long term future for the site; the Friends have their own Committee which will represent local residents’ views, as well as those of cyclists, and help the Trust raise the profile and support fundraising for the project.

The Friends group already has nearly 250 members made up of those who automatically became Friends of the Velodrome by donating more than the group's £10 annual subscription fee. Five members of the Friend's committee have already been voted in to place but there are still seven places to be filled and both the Herne Hill Charitable Trust and the Friends of Herne Hill are keen to encourage users of the velodrome and local residents to take join the Friends group and nominate themselves for its committee.

To become a Friend of Herne Hill Velodrome

• Go to www.seethedifference.org & search for ‘Herne Hill’. Click on ‘Help shape the future of Herne Hill Velodrome’ to reach the Friends page. To pay the subscription, please enter £10 (they will happily take more) and give your details as requested and register for Gift Aid if you can
• See the Difference will automatically put your name on the Friends list and you will receive the communications and benefits of being a Friend