Each year, Trustees’ Week highlights the impact that trustees make across charities and communities. For Rebecca Mayhew, becoming a trustee of Chichester Cathedral Restoration and Development Trust was a natural step, shaped by a lifelong commitment to volunteering and community.
As part of Trustees’ Week, I wanted to share a little of my own journey and why I’ve chosen to serve as a Trustee of Chichester Cathedral.
...the Cathedral is more than a building - it is the heart of Chichester.
Rebecca
For me, the Cathedral is more than a building - it is the heart of Chichester. Its spire rises above the city, a constant landmark that grounds and inspires me whenever I catch sight of it. The Cathedral is open and welcoming, and for me it is a wonderful place to listen to the choir, particularly at Evensong, and to find stillness and reflection at Holy Communion.
That sense of rhythm and belonging echoes through other parts of my life too. I’m a keen rower and a member of Bosham Sailing Club, where I find both joy and challenge on the water. Rowing, like cathedral life, depends on teamwork, balance, and shared purpose - qualities I carry into my role as trustee.
My roots of volunteering go back to before university, when I was selected by Project Trust to spend a year teaching in Kenya. Living and working in a very different culture shaped my outlook profoundly: it taught me resilience and adaptability which have stayed with me.
After graduating, I worked in advertising for a magazine publishing company and then moved to the charity sector as corporate development manager for Marie Curie Cancer Care, before later serving as a Board Member for Project Trust itself, helping young people access extraordinary volunteering opportunities overseas. Fundraising, governance, and community support became consistent threads in my journey.
In 2002, my husband and I founded Go Ape, which grew into a nationwide adventure brand with over a million visitors each year. The business was not just about zip wires and treetop crossings - it was about building confidence, community, and unforgettable experiences. Nearly twenty years later, we entrusted 90% of Go Ape to an Employee Ownership Trust, ensuring that its people would guide its future. Today, I continue to serve as a Trustee of Go Ape and as part of its Foundation team.
Alongside Go Ape, I’ve been privileged to support other ventures that champion health, wellbeing, and community. From investing in The Font - world-class climbing walls in the heart of London - to backing PadelStars and Psycle, leading padel and specialised gym operators. I’ve always been drawn to projects that inspire connection, resilience, and fun. More locally, I’m proud to support the Chichester Bike Project, which combines sustainability with skills and empowerment.
So why Chichester Cathedral? Because it embodies the same qualities I’ve always valued: people coming together, supporting one another, and the surrounding community. When the opportunity came to join the Chichester Cathedral Restoration and Development Trust in 2024, it felt like a natural continuation of my path.
To be a trustee here gives me a real sense of purpose.
Rebecca
To be a trustee here gives me a real sense of purpose: helping to nurture a place of worship, music, and community, while ensuring its future for generations to come. I hope, through my experience in business, fundraising, and stewardship, to make a meaningful contribution.
If, like me, you’re inspired by the Cathedral - its worship, its music, its community - why not consider how you could get involved? Your skills and support could help ensure that Chichester Cathedral continues to flourish for centuries to come.
We hope Rebecca’s story has inspired you. If you share a passion for faith, music, heritage or community, there are many ways to support Chichester Cathedral. Your involvement could make a real difference to its life today and its future tomorrow. Find out more about Volunteering at Chichester Cathedral.
Chichester Cathedral Restoration & Development Trust CIO
Registered Charity No. 1156729
Please note CAF donate whom we use for online donations will deduct a processing fee of up to 3.7% from your donation