Taryn Field, Host Contact, looks back – and forward: WWOOF UK would like to extend a massive ‘thank you’ and an official ‘goodbye’ to LILI (Lowimpact.org) who have been running the WWOOF UK organisation since 2007.
WWOOF UK was not in a position to become an employer all those years ago, and was looking for an organisation to run their administration. LILI 
won the contract and since then has done an amazing job of building WWOOF UK up to where it is today.
WWOOF UK has now branched away from LILI and is the team’s direct employer – a decision which made financial sense due to recent changes in EU VAT law. The decision was initially difficult to accept because of our emotional attachment to LILI, but has proved mutually beneficial as now both of us gain from VAT exemption in the UK. And so, the division began.
The move from LILI as our employers has resulted in a physical move away from Redfield Community where WWOOF UK was based for all those years. We’d like to thank Redfield for housing the LILI/WWOOF office, we 
have thoroughly enjoyed working from there, listening to the sound of the birds, tractors and seeing WWOOFers in the grounds enjoying their experience. We are now settling in to a new office in Buckingham; no swallows or bees, but we do have a tortoise called Sheldon.
LILI, and Dave Darby in particular (LILI’s Director and Founder), has been completely supportive of WWOOF UK throughout our relationship and it is with some sadness that we move away from that, but we will be supporting LILI in several other ways, 
like becoming a ‘network partner’ on their website. If you run eco-courses, or have an eco-minded business, why don’t you get in touch with LILI and be listed on their directory? It’s definitely worth it!
Even with a teary eye, we move into this ‘new era’ full of excitement and hope for all the new and interesting developments WWOOF UK has to offer.
Thanks again LILI, it certainly has been fun!
With love….
The WWOOF UK team!
