A Hayle woman has been elected as vice-chair of a charitable trust board. 

Amelia Kitchen has taken on the role with GLL’s worker board. 

The senior general manager in Cornwall joined colleagues, politicians and sporting celebrities at the House of Commons to mark the occasion. 

Amelia has worked in leisure and sport since 2000.  

She became a member of the GLL team when the organisation agreed a contract with Cornwall Council to take on the running of its leisure centres.  

Amelia has a master’s degree in recreation management from Loughborough University and, as an opt-in member of the GLL Society, was elected to the co-operative’s 10-strong worker board two years ago. 

Ameila said: “We meet monthly online as a group and have full board meetings quarterly that include the chief executive, independent trustees, observers and councillors. 

“The worker board is about governance – checking and challenging what GLL does to fulfil its purpose of improving the physical, mental and social wellbeing of our communities across the UK. 

 “As a member, I have a role to play in shaping the future direction of GLL, and being able to bring the Cornish perspective to the table is very important.  I strongly believe in the GLL ethos. It doesn’t have shareholders like private companies and surplus money is invested back into the services and facilities we provide.  

“The new outdoor gym at Newquay Leisure World, for example was a capital reinvestment of surplus funds.”

She added: “There are a lot of misconceptions about GLL but, as someone who lives and works in Cornwall, I can honestly say that our charitable social enterprise model is impressively unique.  

“It’s an honour to have been elected to my new voluntary role, whilst also working hard to ensure our Cornish centres work as cost effectively as possible in these post-COVID, high inflation times.”