How we started

Keevil’s first community web pages were launched in 2012 as a Diamond Jubilee village legacy, on the free BT Community Web Kit platform. Five years later and with technology changing all the time, founders Suzanne and the late Jerry Wickham handed the management of this useful village resource to Bob Ayres and Sarah Dow.

Our first move was to upgrade the website to a new WordPress platform to improve functionality and security, with fully responsive accessibility across devices. We relaunched in the summer of 2017 with a fresh, dynamic and vibrant site, rich in visual content, which we hope reflects our wonderful village and community.

How the village website is funded

We pay £120 per annum for a Premium WordPress package which gives us advanced functionality and storage, remain free from GoogleAds, and includes our domain name. This is funded by donations and profits from various activities including the sale of a village calendar, village Christmas and other greetings cards, some of the proceeds of the sale of the village apple press, the generous support of the Fun Committee, and some warm-hearted individuals. Thanks to the incredible recent generosity of the First Tuesday Club and the Safari Supper event, we are covered through 2025, yay!

Although we carry some information about Parish matters and the Parish Council, we are fully independent of Keevil PC and do not receive funding from them. Keevil Parish Council have their own website here.

The Keevil Village Foundation

In 2023, a group of village volunteers organised a small music and crafts festival, and in 2025 there are big plans afoot for new KEEVIL ROOTS held entirely on the Banfield Recreation Ground.

Here at the village website and Buzz, which has grown exponentially since we took it over in 2017, we’ve long wished to bring a more formal basis to the way we accept donations and operate. So we are joining forces with ROOTS to form the Keevil Village Foundation, a not-for-profit community group that aims to promote access to independent village news and information, as well as the enjoyment of music and creative arts, to residents of all ages in and around the village of Keevil, and to their families and friends wherever they are.

We are in the process of applying to the Charity Commission for registration as a CIO, with a mission to keep doing what we do here and support a more diverse, inclusive approach to providing music and arts here in Keevil.  The accounts of Roots and KV will always be kept separate, however we will operate from a dedicated bank account up for the Foundation – which will bring benefits to both our community enterprises, and the local support we are so, so lucky to have!

How the village website is managed

Sarah Dow, Joni Booth and Andie Van Poeteren now manage the website: Joni and Andie came on board in 2023 to strengthen the admin team and help with updating and developing content.

When Sarah joined the Parish Council in September 2020, we decided to set up an Oversight Group that would ensure the transparency and fair balance of the village website as an independent village voice was protected. Even though Sarah is now the Parish Clerk (and therefore has no decision-making role), we think the Oversight Group plays a vital role, so it has continued. They are here to:

  • Be available as a referral body for both users/visitors and webmasters/content providers;
  • Monitor content to make sure it’s accurate and up-to-date, fair and neutral;
  • Ensure positive relationships with other village groups;
  • Consider new content ideas and future funding initiatives.

CONTENT MANAGEMENT and OVERSIGHT GROUP

USING THIS WEBSITE

The village website is intended as a helpful and informative village resource, and you can comment on most pages and posts within the site. Please, if leaving a comment, remember:

  1. Always be kind: keep the website a kind, considerate, safe and supportive environment that respects the views of others;
  2. No hate speech or bullying: be considerate of others with different opinions. Don’t make defamatory comments, or do anything that might cause your friends and neighbours distress.

Admins or the Oversight Group will remove anything that, in their opinion, isn’t positive and doesn’t serve or celebrate our wonderful village community.

You must not use our website for or in connection with unlawful, illegal, fraudulent, defamatory, or otherwise harmful activity.

This website is managed by and for the villagers of Keevil; unless specifically stated otherwise, views expressed are not those of the Parish Council who have their own website here.

The webmasters are not responsible for the content of material belonging to other organisations, and accept no responsibility for any loss or harm howsoever caused.

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