Meet Laura: From Global Adventures to Community Building in Poundbury

With tales of calf-riding in Uruguay and whale shark encounters off Australia, Laura brings a spirit of adventure—and great organisational skills—to her new role as LovePoundbury's Volunteer Coordinator.

Laura's journey to Poundbury began with a significant life change: leaving The Netherlands after 14 years to return to Dorset. Having previously lived in Bournemouth, she and her partner sought something different this time—more space, countryside access, and most importantly, a truly sustainable lifestyle. "We wanted to just put on the boots and be on a footpath, but several factors were crucial: living in as sustainable a property as possible, pleasant walkable and cyclable urban fabric, and good access to trains and buses. Dorchester/ Poundbury fitted the bill perfectly!" This wasn't Laura's first international move—her career in sustainable transport management has taken her across the UK and New Zealand, whilst earlier adventures saw her living in Spain, Germany, and Argentina, where she taught English and trained teachers. Each experience shaped her understanding of what makes communities truly livable and connected.

Making Things Happen

What sets Laura apart is her extensive background in sustainable transport management and her international adventures. It's not just the technical expertise, however, it's her passion for the process itself. "Bringing people together to achieve an outcome is something I really enjoy," she says, a skill honed through years of managing diverse teams and teaching.

Her approach to volunteer coordination is refreshingly practical: "My role is to encourage volunteers to join and then bring them together to enable projects to happen for our community." Expect regular calls for volunteers as Laura works to match community needs with resident skills and interests.

First Impressions

As a newcomer since June, Laura offers a fresh perspective on what makes the Community Association of Poundbury/LovePoundbury special. "I am amazed at what has been done by the team in such a short time and the professionalism," she reflects. "The newsletter is fabulous and very helpful to a new person in town! I actually looked at the website while we were deciding on Poundbury as a possible place to live."

For Laura, the appeal extends beyond impressive organization to the human connections: "The team are very friendly and I love the future possibility of new connections and friends that will come from being part of LovePoundbury."

An Adventurous Character

Laura's global experiences reveal a person who embraces challenges with a good dose of humour. That Uruguay farm party where she attempted calf-riding? "I lasted 3 seconds and was catapulted off the calf's back! I have an amazing photo of it," she laughs. Then there's snorkeling with whale sharks off Australia's west coast, or winning two weeks of French Alps skiing through a newspaper competition. These aren't just travel stories—they reflect someone who says yes to new experiences, exactly the mindset needed for effective community volunteering.

Laura's philosophy on volunteering goes deeper than just getting tasks done, however:. "Ownership and input into where you live can help a community thrive and give a sense of belonging," she explains. It's about creating connections that strengthen the entire community fabric.

Ready to Get Involved?

Laura is already identifying exciting opportunities for residents to contribute. LovePoundbury currently seeks a Secretary for the CIC and additional Directors to expand leadership capacity. If you like engaging with businesses, we welcome help with member benefits and sponsorship, and new communications team members who can help with newsletter writing and social media management. The CAofP is also seeking project leadership volunteers for initiatives like Poundbury in Bloom or the Photography Competition, and stakeholder liaison representatives to help advocate for community interests.

Interested in volunteering? Please email Laura at: volunteering@lovepoundbury.org