The annual meeting of the Oakley Trustees took place at the home of Mark and Alison Rowley in Richmond, London on Saturday 25th November 2006 with Peter Downes in the Chair.

Trustees present were Beccy Buck, Caroline Derbyshire, Jenny Beake, Julian Wilde, Lewis Kent, Alison Rowley, Mark Rowley, Peter Downes, Russel Bailey and Paul Batley.

Pamela Downes was welcomed as a guest observer.

Chris Vernazza was elected and welcomed as a new Trustee. Three other senior leaders are be invited to become trustees in 2007.

The yearly financial report was presented by Lewis Kent and this, together with the fees for the 2007 holidays, including reductions for university students, were approved.

The annual report to the Charity Commissioners, prepared by Julian Wilde, was approved .

The report refers to two very successful and very well attended holidays at Bilton Grange in 2006, excellent relationships with the school authorities at Bilton and a further development of the training programme for our leaders.

Trustees heard from Caroline Derbyshire about the successful leaders' conference at St. Mark’s College near Saffron Walden. This would be used again in February 2007.

Russel Bailey would ensure that feedback from leaders on the summer 2006 holiday was included in the conference programme.

Russel Bailey and Chris Vernazza reported on the further development of the web site, Lewis Kent on the book he was writing on the history of the Oakley Holidays and Chris Vernazza on a proposed “Time to Think” book of readings which would be available after Easter.

There was discussion on the expansion of the ways in which charities were supported at the holidays and by members of the holidays in sponsored events.

Recruitment for 2007 was discussed together with the optimum size and deployment of dormitories at the holidays at Bilton Grange.

A number of the formal policies of Oakley Holidays were reviewed and approved including the child protection policy. Peter Downes was re-elected as Chairman, Alison Rowley as Vice-Chair, Lewis Kent as Treasurer and Julian Wilde as Secretary.

Next Annual Meeting

The next Trustees' Meeting will be held in London on Saturday 17th December 2007, when the Minutes from the 2006 meeting will be presented for approval