The Beltane Fire Society (BFS) is a registered charity, based in Edinburgh. We have a board of trustees who are volunteers, elected by our members each year at our annual general meeting (with additional members coopted throughout the year if needed, by vote of the board themselves). They are responsible for making sure BFS delivers on its charitable aims, that we comply with all the requirements placed on us, and help oversee the smooth running of the charity and our festivals.
Want to know what the board do? Take a look…
The board meet regularly to make key decisions. You can read minutes and agendas for board and other BFS meetings. You can also see details about us as a charity (including our annual accounts) on the website of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Additionally, you can email us via board@beltane.org for general information on our society’s governance.
Our 2023-24 Board of Trustees:
SAMMI SEARLE, CHAIR
This is my first term as trustee for the Beltane Fire Society since moving to Scotland and joining the society in 2021. Serving as Chair on the Board is my way of giving back to this beautiful community that brings so much creativity and meaning to its membership.
In this term my main focuses are ensuring the smooth running of Board processes, supporting the trustees with their work, upholding the interests of the membership and exploring ways the society’s trusteeship can move towards better continuity and sustainability.
You can contact me via chair@beltane.org
Sophie McCarthy, VICE CHAIR & Company secretary
This is my first term as a trustee at BFS. My background is in live events which led me to stewarding regularly since 2021. Now that I am on the BFS board, I view my role as a different kind of stewarding as I work with fellow trustees to guide our community.
I particularly enjoy working with policy and governance, and have extensive experience in national student representation and higher education policy. I would like to bring these skills to my role as a trustee and work to improve accessibility of our festivals throughout my term as a trustee this year.
I also assist Maïlis with their work as Festival Secretary.
If you’d like to get in touch to discuss anything about BFS with me I’d love to hear from you, my inbox sophie@beltane.org is always open!
C’tri Goudie, TREASURER
This is my second term as a trustee for the Beltane Fire Society, since joining the society in late 2019. This term I’m focusing on being Treasurer than the wider set of responsibilities I had last term.
I joined the board in 2022 in order to spread the load and be supportive to other trustees, as well as champion transparency.
You can contact me via treasurer@beltane.org
STEW WILSON, SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR
I’ve been part of the Beltane Fire Society since 2005. I became a trustee two years ago in order to give back by ensuring the smooth running of the Society.
My main role is dealing with the Society’s systems, including the group accounts and ensuring that we have access to the information and traditions that we have built up over our 36 years (and counting), as well as supporting the other trustees in the broad range of responsibilities that we all take on.
You can contact me via stew@beltane.org
Maïlis Marty (she/they), Festival Secretary
This is my first term as a Trustee, but I have been around the Beltane Fire Festival since 2017. I decided to join the Board to help spread all the jobs needing to run our Festivals. I’m currently sharing the role of Festival Secretary with Sophie McCarthy.
Joining the Board was a way for me to give back to the community that welcomed me 6 years ago.
You can get in touch with me via mailis@beltane.org
Beltane Fire Society 