Samantha Whelan, Platform Thirty1

We asked Samantha about Platform Thirty1’s greatest achievement over the last 12 months. She shared that it has been about growing and maintaining meaningful partnerships with collaborators and co-existors, always keeping the community’s voice at the forefront of strategic and business decision-making. Additionally, Platform Thirty1 successfully delivered numerous moments and events on a scale they had never attempted before. It’s been an incredible year!

When reflecting on how her own organisational and personal values align with the Bolsover Place Programme’s priorities of Stay. Belong. Flourish, Samantha emphasised Platform Thirty1’s unapologetic authenticity and commitment to creating a sense of belonging for both people and place. She believes in finding pride, stories, and creativity everywhere, championing the idea to "dig where you live." Environmental alignment is also a key priority for Samantha, encouraging exploration and connection to what’s on one’s doorstep.

As for her favorite places to visit in Bolsover, Samantha highlighted the small towns and villages and the sense of connection between them. She gave special mention to Mill Catering at Pleasley Vale and the Five Pits Trail, particularly the stretch through Blackwell Parish, as hidden gems and must-visit spots.

Finally, we asked Samantha to complete this sentence: "I believe in Bolsover because... the appetite for change and progress, driven by and for the people here, matters to so many. Together, we are noisy advocates for collective, innovative, and change-driven ways of working."