Shape the Future of Our Allotment
Are you passionate about our allotment and eager to help guide its future? We invite interested SHAS members to join the SHAS Committee. No experience is needed: just enthusiasm, commitment, and a willingness to collaborate.
Why Join the Committee?
- Help influence decisions about rules, facilities, events and maintenance
- Get to know fellow plot-holders and become a stronger part of the community
- Gain experience in community organising, event planning, project management
- Help ensure fairness, transparency, and “a voice for all”
- Make a real impact: your ideas will be heard
What Does Being on the Committee Involve?
- Attending committee meetings 2 hours every 6-8 weeks.
- Attend the AGM every Spring
- Be proactive raising ideas of how we can improve
- Being willing to get stuck in and work together to achieve our aims
What is the process for joining the committee?
There are two routes to joining the committee:
At the AGM
Anyone can nominate themselves before the AGM to be voted onto the committee during the AGM meeting held in Spring. All members will receive information on how to do this with the AGM notices sent out in the Winter.
Any other time of the year
The committee can co-opt new members by a simple vote outside of the AGM. All members of the committee officially resign at the AGM and must all put themselves forward for nomination if they wish to be on the committee for the next year. This includes all new members who have been co-opted.
Still interested?
If you are interested you can use the button below to email the committee Chair, Louise Virabi. She will be in touch to answer any questions you may have and invite you to attend the next committee meeting. At the meeting you can meet the current committee members, see how a meeting runs and participate in our discussions.
After the meeting you will be contacted to ask if you still wish to join and the committee will vote to co-opt you or not.
Please note that if you are not co-opted for whatever reason you still have the right to nominate yourself before the AGM as long as you are a member of SHAS at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need any experience?
No, you’ll be supported and learn on the job. We welcome a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds.
How much time will it take up?
It depends on what you want to get involved in. Meetings are 2 hours every 6-8 weeks plus any topics or projects you choose to help out with.
When are committee meetings held?
Every 6-8 weeks on Monday evenings from 7:15 – 9:00. Either hosted on site at the Hoe Down in warmer weather or another local location arranged over the off season.
What if I can’t make every meeting?
While it’s important that you’re generally free when we have meetings it is understood that you have other commitments and we can arrange online meetings if required.
Can I step down if my life changes?
There are no minimum commitments, we do need some level of continuity in roles but life changes over the years.
Is the committee paid or do I receive any other direct benefits?
No, this is a volunteer role, but your work is highly appreciated.
Does this mean I don’t have to go through plot inspections any more?
It is a principle of the current committee that no special treatment is given to committee members and all plots are inspected to the same standard.
Do I need to take on a particular role?
There are named roles on the committee but these are all currently filled so if you wish to join you would only have to take on particular projects or tasks you are interested in. The full list of roles can be found on the SHAS Committee page.
Do I need to be a plot holder to join the committee?
No, you do need to be a member of the SHAS association but you do not have to be a plot holder to be part of the committee.
How does the committee operate and communicate?
Alongside the regularly scheduled committee meetings and AGM we are in regular contact via email and have a closed WhatsApp group to discuss smaller items. We also often meet up in smaller groups to work on tasks and projects when people are available.
If the council own the site, why do we need a committee?
Trafford Council have leased the land to SHAS to manage. This allows us much more flexibility to make decisions on how the site operates day to day but it requires volunteers to run it.
Can you tell me more about the society?
Allotments have existed on Grosvenor Road since the late 1800s. By the 1980s, Council-managed plots declined, leading concerned plot holders to organise and restore the area. Impressed, Trafford Borough Council let them self-manage, resulting in the formation of the Sale Horticultural and Allotment Society (SHAS) in 1988. Nearly 40 years later, the site is thriving with well-kept plots and a strong waiting list.
How many spaces are there on the committee?
We can have up to 10 committee members and have one open vacancy currently. Two additional members have already announced they will not be seeking re-election at the 2026 AGM so we are looking for 3 new members in total.