Museum Volunteer Roles

Play a key role in leading the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association as our next Chair of Trustees, to support the preservation and development of the Keats-Shelley House and Museum in Rome, and a range of programmes and events in both Rome and the UK.

Applications close at: 9 a.m. Monday 17th February 2025.

Location: London (with occasional travel to Rome)

Time commitment: At least 1 day per month

About the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association

The Keats-Shelley Memorial Association (KSMA) was founded in 1903 to maintain and support the Keats-Shelley House, an 18th-century Palazzo, at 26 Piazza di Spagna, Rome, now a Museum devoted to the English Romantic poets – John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley and their circle, including Lord Bryon and Mary Shelley, especially those associated with Italy.

The Association is also responsible for maintaining the graves of Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Joseph Severn and Edward Trelawny in the non-Catholic Cemetery at Testaccio.

The Keats-Shelley House is open to the public and performs an educational and cultural role in the life of Rome. The Museum houses one of the world’s most extensive collections of memorabilia, letters, manuscripts, and paintings related to Keats, Shelley, as well as Mary Shelley, Byron, Wordsworth, Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browing, Oscar Wilde and others. The Keats-Shelley House in Rome offers outreach programmes, lectures, and events and organises a poetry competition for Italian school students.

In the UK, the Association publishes a bi-annual journal, ‘The Keats-Shelley Review’ and periodic newsletters. It organises a range of events such as lectures, poetry readings and dramatic presentations. It also organises the annual Keats-Shelley Prize and Young Romantics Prize for poetry and essay writing. Annual awards ceremonies usually take place in London.

The Association plays an important role in Anglo-Italian cultural relations.

About the role

The Association is a UK-registered charity with a Board of Trustees and three Sub-Committees in the UK for The Keats-Shelley Prizes, Acquisitions and Investments.

The UK Board has 19 Trustees, including the Chair. The Rome Sub-Committee has 16 Members. The Chair of the Rome Sub-Committee is an ex-officio member of the UK Board and a Trustee.

Following a highly successful seven-year term, Sir Ivor Roberts, will be stepping down from being Chair in April 2025 and so the Board of Trustees now seeks a new Chair to succeed him.

As an ambassador and public face of the Association, you will lead the Board and work collectively for the benefit of the Association, for its long-term sustainability and to fulfil its charitable aims.

Who we are looking for

We are keen to encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates who can bring different skills and perspectives and come from a wide range of backgrounds.

In addition to having a strong interest, passion and commitment to the Association and its work, we seek someone with:

• Experience in chairing boards, high-level meetings or senior groups in a commercial or income-generating environment with sound independent judgement.
• An understanding of financial management and the financial and legal duties, responsibilities, risks and liabilities of a charity.
• An interest in Anglo-Italian relations.

We are also looking for someone who is comfortable in an ambassadorial role with the ability to bring added value to the charity through connections which could be in diplomatic, government or financial circles, and willingness to use networks to advance the Association.

Being able to devote the necessary time to meet the responsibilities of the role, including travel and attending events and meetings in the UK and Rome will be vital and whilst knowledge of Italian would be useful, it is not essential.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 17th February 2025.

Do you enjoy making people feel welcome? Do you love to engage and chat with people, young and old? Come and join the Visitor Experience Team and help us to provide an engaging day out for our visitors.

What is the role? 

As a Welcome Host you will be joining the Visitor Experience department, greeting visitors and sharing the stories of our exhibits.  The RAF Museum’s vision is to inspire everyone with the RAF story - the people who shape it and its place in our lives. The RAF Museum Midlands welcomes thousands of visitors of all ages from all over the world. Our Welcome Host volunteers help us make their visit engaging and impactful, creating special moments and memories within the unique setting of our museum.

What will I be doing?

-Meeting and greeting our visitors, providing a warm welcome to the museum

-Providing a point of contact to interact with visitors throughout their visit, sharing information, providing directions, and answering any questions

-Presenting a positive image of the Museum to all visitors

-Discussing our exhibits and sharing the RAF story with visitors.

-Sharing our handling collection of uniforms, helmets and other historical items

There may also be opportunities to get involved with other visitor-facing interactions such as supporting public events when time allows.

This role will be perfect for you if you are…

-Keen to interact and engage with our visitors

-Enthusiastic and personable

-Happy to work as part of a team

-Punctual and reliable

-Comfortable undertaking a variety of tasks

-Knowledge of our subject matter is useful, but not necessary.

If there are adjustments, we could make to support you in this role e.g. ensuring seating is available, do please let us know. Some front-of-house volunteers may be requested to be outside for some/all their shift – if this would be problematic for you, again do please let us know.

How much time would I need to commit?

We are ideally looking for a minimum commitment of two shifts a month, but this is flexible depending on personal circumstances.This is a seven day a week opportunity, with morning (9:30-13:15), afternoon (13:15-16:00/17:00) and whole-day shifts available.  Which shifts you choose is entirely your own decision, depending upon your own availability. 

What we offer you:

· Become part of a great team of volunteers and staff 

· Make new experiences and meet new people

· Improve your communication skills

· Volunteer tickets for certain events 

· Discounts in our gift shop and café 

· Travel expenses reimbursed up to £14.50 per day, in line with our policy 

· Free entry to a wide selection of other museum and heritage sites and exhibitions nationwide. 

. Free onsite parking for volunteers

What happens next?

You will be invited to a Welcome Day to learn more about the role, with the opportunity to speak to current volunteers. The Welcome Day will take place on 7 March 2025.

Are you a creative writer with an interest in the programme and themes of the National Science and Media Museum? Volunteer Bloggers develop a range of blog posts responding to our museum’s programme, including its exhibitions and festivals. We encourage all volunteers to apply their own creative approach when responding to and reviewing our programme and we welcome topics inspired by or touched on in our collections and wider programmes. You will be given blog guidelines to follow and lots of tips and ideas for where to start. During the year, there are sometimes opportunities to connect with our staff, external supporters or guest speakers.

In this role, it helps to live locally to make the most of opportunities to visit the museum and experience our events and exhibitions first hand, but you can volunteer in this role from wherever you live.

In this role you will:

• Write blog posts exploring aspects of our museum’s programme, exhibitions or collections.
• Liaise with museum staff to develop your content
• Where relevant, undertake research to develop your blog post

What you’ll bring to the role: 

This role is perfect for people who:

• Enjoy writing and are motivated to create engaging, interesting and well written content
• Enjoy undertaking independent research on subjects explored by our museum
• Are looking to improve their writing skills by contributing to the online content of a national museum.

It would be good if you:

• Are interested in, or knowledgeable about, the museum and are keen to promote its programme

Some things you need to know:

• To volunteer in this role, you must be 18 or over. 
• All volunteers must attend an online taster session and a welcome session to join this role (held on Microsoft Teams). You must be available for one of each of these:
  • Taster: 13.30-14.30, Tues 25 Feb, or 17.30-18.30 the same day
  • Welcome: 13.30-14.30, Tues 4 March, or 17.30-18.30 the same day
• This role is remote, which means you can volunteer from wherever you live as long as you have a device with a word processor (such as Microsoft Word) and the ability to use email to be in touch with our team. It may be an advantage to you to be local, as you can visit our museum in person, but this isn’t essential.
• All blog posts shared as part of this role will be checked by our Comms team (and our Curatorial team where appropriate) before publishing. You will have feedback and support with producing your blog post(s).

How to Apply:
Interested? We welcome your application. Please visit our wesbite to find out more and apply. We are also open to alternatives such as applying over the phone, so do let us know how we can support you.

We with you every success with your application. We believe in a culture that recognises and values different experiences, mindsets, and expertise, so we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

The Friends of Windmill Gardens (FOWG) was set up in 2003 to restore, preserve and enhance Brixton Windmill and Windmill Gardens. We are now a thriving community organisation supporting local residents, milling flour, educating schoolchildren and allowing visitors to experience the 200 year old windmill.  We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (1176991).

We’re looking for a new Trustee to lead the fundraising activity for the organisation and support an active and engaged fundraising committee made up of volunteers.  The income for the FOWG is split between grants from heritage and community funders, donations from local people, and private hire fees.  As a Trustee leading on fundraising, you’ll support the continued grant applications made by the fundraising committee, explore new routes for donations and grants, and ensure that the Trustees and committee have the information they need. Alonside this, you’ll also fulfil the role of Trustee, attending regular meetings and overseeing the work of the organisation as a whole. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with fundraising experience to gain knowledge and insight into how a charity is run, work with welcoming and supportive trustees and staff, and support a wonderful local community organisation.

Would you like to contribute to the future direction of the Bakewell and District Historical Society which manages the wonderful Bakewell Old House Museum?

Do you want to make use of your talent and energy, with opportunities for personal growth and fulfilment?

Maybe you would like to do something that supports your local community?

Registered Charity No. 1184842

Accredited Museum No. 559

The Bakewell and District Historical Society operates the Bakewell Old House Museum, which tells the stories of the people of Bakewell and the Peak District to local audiences and tourists. The museum is sited within a wonderful Tudor Grade II*-listed building, providing immersive experiences for general visitors, school children and groups alike.

Trustees provide strategic leadership for the Society and the Museum which is operated on a day-to-day basis by the Manager Curator, a Museum Assistant and a team of enthusiastic volunteers. This is an exciting time to join our team, as we reconnect with our local communities, offering lots of fundraising opportunities, and a post-Covid cohort of volunteers that have re-invigorated the museum.

The current board is made up of 7 Trustees from a range of backgrounds including digital and commercial marketing, collections, buildings, and financial management. Each trustee brings different skills and experience.

We are looking to make three appointments during this recruitment round, for Trustees who have skills and experience in the following areas:

· Fundraising

· People (including Paid Staff and Volunteering)

· Schools

Applications are welcome from anyone who has a passion for small museums and local societies, with interests in local communities and our heritage, and feels that they can help deliver our vision and plan for our future sustainability. The positions are not remunerated. Our expectation is that trustees will serve a three-year term and may be re-appointed.

The most important attributes for a Trustee are:

· Enthusiasm and commitment 

· Leadership and inter-personal skills 

· Tact, diplomacy and powers of persuasion, with an ability to listen and engage effectively 

· Networking capabilities 

· An ability to foster a collaborative working environment  

· Willingness to go 'the extra mile' and commit time to contribute to projects and sub-committees 

If this sounds like you, please read our Trustee Recruitment Pack for further details about the Society and Museum, the Role Description and Application process:

Deadline for applications: 8 February 2025, Midday

Interviews will be held at the museum on Monday 24 February 2025.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Discover more from our website.

The John Moore Museum is nestled in a row of historic timber-framed buildings close to the Abbey in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. The museum was established in 1980 in memory of the writer and naturalist, John Moore. Today it is also home to an extensive Natural History collection featuring specimens of the mammals and birds native to our woodlands, wetlands, gardens and farms. If you want to discover more about our local countryside, including our famous “flooding” rivers to the Severn Ham, then we are place for you.

A few doors away is The Merchant’s House, a two storey building which has been beautifully restored and furnished to show the construction of a 16th century shop and dwelling.

The museum has recently renovated the Old Baptist Chapel, originally a late medieval hall house which was later converted for use as a Nonconformist meeting house.

As a volunteer, you would welcome visitors and take them around the three sites, letting them experience the buildings while you give a guided tour. You would also be able to have back of house experience with the museum and its collection. This could include display creation, maintaining the objects and general back of house dutes. You may be asked to help with our workshops if you would like, these include school group workshops, childrens holiday activities and group visits. As a volunteer you might volunteer at our events or even attend our events for free. 

We are open Tuesday to Saturday and shifts are morning or afternoon or a whole day with a lunch break between 1-2pm. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided throughout your shift.

This role is for you if you are

• friendly,
• welcoming,
• happy to interact with visitors,
• have an interest in historical buildings and history
• enjoy social interaction.

We are happy to have you volunteer with us weekly, fortnightly or even monthly, whatever suits your life and commitments. 

The Norwich Printing Museum is looking to recruit a small number (up to six) of new members for its Board of Trustees.

The Museum is one of very few remaining working printing museums in the UK. It was born from a collection of printing machinery, type and bindery equipment gathered by Jarrolds for their own printing museum (which closed in 2019). The Museum is now an independent charitable Trust, run by the Board of Trustees and operated by a team of volunteers (a few of whom are also Trustees). A small working ‘Museum in Residence’ on the Blickling Estate has been operating since 2021 and is due to close in October 2025. The Museum is seeking a permanent home to store and display its collections in Norwich.

Whether you are an experienced museum volunteer or trustee, someone with an interest in conserving and interpreting threatened traditional crafts, an enthusiast for the history and practice of printing, or for the city of Norwich, you will be very welcome to apply to join our Board of Trustees.

The Trustees are looking to expand their skill-base, and will welcome especially those with skills and enthusiasm in one or more of the following areas:

• Heritage project development
• Leadership and decision-making
• Museum management or curatorship
• Building management
• Fundraising
• Public education
• Printing or book history
• Printmaking
• Design history
• Bookbinding
• Marketing and publicity
• Administrative skills
• Managing volunteers
• IT and social media
• Teaching/public speaking
• Norwich and Norfolk life

The role of Trustee involves:

• Taking part in management and decision-making processes
• Working with the Board to meet the challenges that face the Museum, especially the need for new premises
• Managing the volunteers and working with them to provide the best service to the public, as a working and archival museum, a cultural and educational resource, and a visitor attraction
• Working with the Board and volunteers to raise funds and publicity for the Museum
• Engaging with other museums and collection-holders in the UK, and with the other charities and administrative bodies which support the Museum
• Working with the Board to update and expand the Museum’s policies and procedures
• Bringing your own ideas and enthusiasms to the running of the Museum

While we welcome applications from across the country, we are particularly seeking Trustees with local connections and knowledge.

Time commitment: The Board of Trustees usually meets monthly throughout the year, currently via Zoom, as well as conducting some ad hoc committee business between meetings, mostly by e-mail. Occasional events and meetings are held in Norwich.

What Trustees receive: As a Trustee you will receive the induction and training  necessary for your role, and the full support of your fellow Trustees. There is no payment for Trusteeship, but traveling and material expenses may be claimed. 

Closing date for applications: 1 March 2025. If you are interested in applying, or would like to find out more, please contact the Chair or Secretary (contact details below). Applicants will be sent a form requesting information on their background and skills, and their reasons for applying, along with the names of two referees (one personal, one professional). Applicants who are selected will be interviewed by representatives of the current Board, and the references of successful applicants will be taken up before their posts are confirmed.

Based at the historic Kew Bridge Waterworks, the London Museum of Water & Steam tells the story of London's water supply, the site, its people and the amazing pumping engines that helped to make London the city it is today. 

Since its infancy the museum has depended upon opur team of skilled volunteers. Today, our volunteers play an integral role in enabling the museum to flourish. 

Role and Responsibilities: 

• Providing visitors with information about our unique history 
• Assisting the Duty Manager in ensuring the smooth running of the museum
• Supporting visitors way-finding and access through the museum 
• Assisting the wider LMS team with social media marketing and collections research
• Help with setting up and organising public programme events 

Based at the historic Kew Bridge Waterworks, the London Museum of Water and Steam tells the story of London's water supply, the site, its people and the amazing pumping engines that helped to make London the city it is today. 

Since its infancy the museum has depended upon our team of skilled volunteers . Today, our volunteers play and integral role in enabling the musem to flourish.

Role Responsibilities:

• Assisting in the upkeep of the museum's unique gardens
• Working outside and collaboratively in a team environment 
• Experience or an interest in horticulture would be desirable 

*PLEASE NOTE* We are unable to sponsor work applications and so you must already be based in the UK to apply to this role.

As a Tour Guide at Historic Croydon Airport, you will be at the forefront of delivering an engaging and informative experience to our visitors. Your role will involve guiding groups through various parts of Airport House, providing historical insights, and ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all guests.

Responsibilities:

1. Conducting Tours:

   • Lead groups on an informative tour comprising the exterior of Airport House, the Booking Hall/Reception area, up the rear stairs, and terminating at the 2nd Floor AH rear landing/entrance to the Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (CAVC).
   • Ensure the tour follows the flow and timings outlined in the Open Day Flow Chart, arriving at the CAVC at the allocated time.

2. Knowledge Building:

   • Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the history of Croydon Airport.
   • Utilize the Tour Guide Guidance Notes to cover key topics and manage the timing of your tours.

3. Visitor Engagement:

   • Speak clearly and engage visitors, aiming to make the tour interactive and enjoyable for all ages, especially children.
   • Answer visitor questions and provide additional information as needed.

4. Safety and Procedures:

   • Briefly mention the Airport House evacuation procedure to visitors at the start of each tour.
   • Be mindful of visitor safety throughout the tour, particularly when crossing kerbs, roads, or using stairs within Airport House.

5. Additional Support:

   • Assist with other roles and tasks when not conducting tours, contributing to the smooth operation of Open Days.

6. Setup and Close Down:

   • Arrive on time for Open Days to help with setting up and closing down activities.

Qualifications:

• Strong interest in history and heritage, with a focus on aviation and Croydon Airport.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills.
• Ability to engage and interact with visitors of all ages.
• Punctual, reliable, and able to follow scheduled timings closely.
• Commitment to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all visitors.

Training: Tour Guides will receive an induction, including a review of emergency procedures and the Tour Guide Guidance Notes. Ongoing training sessions and resources will be provided to support knowledge building.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to share the fascinating history of Croydon Airport with a diverse audience.
• Gain experience in public speaking and heritage interpretation.
• Be part of a supportive and passionate team.
• Contribute to the educational and cultural enrichment of the community.

Application Process: If you are enthusiastic about history and enjoy engaging with the public, we would love to hear from you.

*PLEASE NOTE* We are unable to sponsor work applications and so you must already be based in the UK to apply to this role.

Join the dedicated team at Historic Croydon Airport and contribute to preserving and sharing the rich history of one of the world’s oldest airports. As a volunteer, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that visitors have a memorable and safe experience while exploring this historic site.

Responsibilities:

1. Visitor Engagement:

   • Greet and treat all visitors equally, with respect, and without discrimination.
   • Provide knowledgeable and engaging information about the history of Croydon Airport.
   • Assist with visitor inquiries and enhance their overall experience.

2. Safety and Security:

   • Be vigilant about the safety of visitors both inside and outside Airport House.
   • Inform visitors of potential hazards, such as crossing kerbs or the road outside Airport House and using stairs within the building.
   • Ensure visitors are aware of emergency exits and the evacuation procedure. Tour Guides should mention this at the start of each tour, and other volunteers should do so when appropriate.

3. Operational Support:

   • Arrive on time for Open Days to assist with setting up and closing down activities.
   • Help maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the site throughout the day.
   • Participate in team meetings and training sessions as required.

Qualifications:

• A keen interest in history and heritage, particularly in aviation and the history of Croydon Airport.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
• Commitment to treating all visitors with respect and without discrimination.
• Punctuality and reliability.

Training: All volunteers will undergo an induction process, including a review of the HCAT Induction document covering emergency exits and evacuation procedures.

Benefits:

• Be part of a passionate community dedicated to preserving an important historical site.
• Gain experience in heritage and museum operations.
• Meet and engage with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Contribute to the educational and cultural enrichment of visitors.

Application Process: If you are enthusiastic about history and enjoy engaging with the public, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for a dedicated and inspiring individual to serve as the Chair of Trustees at Kempton Great Engines Trust (KGET) as we embark on an ambitious expansion program.

KGET oversees the Kempton Steam Museum, home to the world's largest operational triple-expansion steam engine, which provided water to much of London until 1980. The Trust not only manages daily operations but also steers the museum's development as a thriving and sustainable visitor attraction.

We have exciting plans to enhance the museum with new facilities for both visitors and volunteers. The new Chair will play a crucial role in advancing these initiatives.

The museum is heavily reliant on our team of volunteers who carry out the technical, operational and front of house activities, several of them having been involved in the original restoration of the engine and the creation of the museum. Our only paid staff member is our bookkeeper. Trustees are actively involved in managing the charity, particularly in fundraising efforts.

We seek a candidate with strategic vision and experience in charity governance, as this background will be invaluable in guiding KGET through its next phase of growth.

Commitment

· Trustees serve for a fixed term of three years and can serve for three consecutive terms.

· Board meetings are normally held every six weeks on a Tuesday evening at the museum in South West London and there will be sub committees to chair and/or attend between main meetings. Trustees also take on specific tasks and activities, which may take 3-4 days a month on average.

Person Specification

In addition to the qualities required of a Trustee of the Trust, the Chair will also meet the following requirements:

·Proven leadership experience, preferably in a non-profit or cultural organisation with a strong understanding of governance and strategic planning.

·Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate volunteers and bring people together.

· Skilled in chairing meetings and events.

· Able to demonstrate a strong passion and commitment to the Trust, its strategic objectives, and cause.

· Possess strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the Trust.

· Able to commit the time required for the role.

ADH Trustees will be expected to:

·Attend all Trustee Board meetings (either in-person or virtually through Zoom). Board meetings are held three times per year. 

·Ensure all activity conducted by the ADH supports and helps the ADH achieve purposes set out in the ADH Constitution, and no other purpose

·Comply with the ADH Constitution and the charitable law requirements and any other applicable laws that might apply to the ADH

·Ensure you are acting in the ADH best interests and accordingly, make informed and reasonable decisions

·Act with reasonable care and skill and seek external, expert advice as and when required

·Ensure there are no conflicts of interest or loyalty when acting as a Trustee and declare where necessary and required

·Decide and plan how the ADH will carry out its purpose, ensuring there are sufficient resources and funds available

·Manage ADH resources and assets responsibly and mitigate any associated risk

·Ensure ADH funds are protected and spent only to achieve ADH objectives

·Ensure accurate financial records are kept and robust financial controls are in place

·Hold one-to-one yearly meetings with ADH volunteers to ensure they are clear on their roles and responsibilities and are aware of how to report an issue

·Periodically, review what the ADH is achieving and how effective the ADH is at carrying out its purpose

·Review ADH objectives and if required, update and modify through the Charity Commission and approval at the ADH AGM

·Be aware of other laws that might affect the running of the ADH such as, equality, data protection and safeguarding laws

·Ensure the ADH is accountable and compliant with statutory accounting and reporting requirements

·Ensure the ADH is accountable to the Charitable Commission and ADH membership

Desirable skills 

·Strong leadership skills

·Good organisational skills

·Good strategic and planning abilities 

·Experience of working with and building teams and organisational culture 

Desirable competencies: 

·Good interpersonal and communication skills

• Excellent diplomacy and persuasive skills

Type and Length of role

·This is a voluntary role on the ADH Trustee Board. It is a three–year tenure after which, the role will be put up for re–election.

·Trustees may be asked to join an ADH Sub-Committee. 

·This role is subject to a three–month review period to ensure expectations are met for both role holder and ADH Executive Committee.

·The role holder will need to devote required time to position and organisation (this will be discussed with successful applicant prior to acceptance of role).

In the event that the role holder resigns a by-election must be held and a new Trustee recruited before current role-holder can stand down

Trustee with experience in Major Capital Developments

About Wonderseekers

Wonderseekers is a children’s charity that uses science engagement to empower children to improve lives and protect and heal our planet. Its purpose is to raise children’s aspirations and confidence when it comes to big topics such as climate change, as well as promoting diversity and inclusion, so that all children have the ambition and freedom to improve their own lives, the lives of others and ultimately life on Earth.

Set up in 1986, and renamed as Wonderseekers in 2022, the Charity has always focused on delivering hands-on science experiences for young children. Through fun, immersive and accessible experiences in schools, communities, online and at its science and discovery centre in Winchester, the Charity is able to spark curiosity when it comes to science. As part of it’s For People and Planet strategy, launched in 2023, it will continue to use these interactive science experiences to positively engage children, through all disciplines of science, with the natural world to enable them to take action against climate change.

The Role

To deliver our new strategy and exciting capital and activity Masterplan, the Charity is looking to strengthen our Board with an individual who can bring their skills and experience within the area of Major Capital Development.

Wonderseekers has a clear and important mission - to create a more equitable world where all children can treasure science and are equipped and empowered to improve lives and protect and heal our planet. Our strategy, For People and Planet 2030, sets out a clear vision for Wonderseekers and the outcomes we want to influence for children and nature. The impact we already have is hugely significant but we know through the delivery of this ambitious strategy and masterplan, we can do so much more. If you share our values, ambition and commitment to our Charity’s mission, we would love to hear from you.

We value diversity amongst our Board of Trustees and the unique contribution trustees bring to the role through their own lived, loved, laboured and learned experiences. As well as ensuring the Board has the necessary business skills required to effectively govern the Charity, we also seek to represent the audiences we serve across all levels of our organisation.

Our Board of Trustees provides strategic leadership and governance to the Charity to ensure we achieve what we set out to do effectively and always in line with ‘Our promise to children’ and regulatory obligations.

We are offering you a unique and rewarding experience. You will have a key impact on our Charity’s mission, oversee our strategic vision, influence future projects and help manage risk.

You will bring your experience and knowledge in one of the key skills areas to advise the Senior Leadership Team and set the future direction of our Charity.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a trustee of Wonderseekers, and we look forward to receiving your application soon!

What we’re looking for

General:

· Engage effectively and constructively with Board and Committee discussions

· Develop excellent working relationships with other trustees and members of the executive team, in order to constructively challenge and support all aspects of our work.

· Have an understanding of the voluntary sector and the roles and legal responsibilities of a trustee including risk management and safeguarding

· Think creatively – Wonderseekers is an innovative and forward-thinking organisation, therefore we will be looking for individuals with an ability to shareour ambitions.

· Commit to the Charity by attending meetings, reviewing papers and informally meeting with the team as required (see below for time expectations)

· Be skilled in analysing proposals and examine their consequences, especially in regard to Capital Developments

· Be interested in how we can use science to encourage children to choose to live healthier, more sustainable lives and contribute to a better world for all

Major Capital Developments:

· Use experience of working strategically and operationally in previous Major Capital Developments to support the wider trustees in developing their individual and collective understanding of this area. This experience does not have to be related to the museum/visitor centre area however this would be beneficial

· Be able to draw on perspectives and previous experience to provide strategic oversight, helping the board to remain innovative, manage risk effectively and adapt to changing environments in relation to our ambitious future plans

· Support the executive team where needed through the planning, preparation and delivery of development projects

· Ensure the board of trustees and charity as a whole are constantly reflecting, learning and improving on our policies, practices and risks involving major capital works

In addition to being able to demonstrate skills, experience and knowledge in one of the areas identified above, in order to carry out your responsibilities as a trustee, you should:

· be committed to the purpose, objects and values of the Charity

· be constructive about other trustees’ opinions in discussions (and in response to staff members’ contributions at meetings)

· be able to act reasonably and responsibly when undertaking such duties and performing tasks

· be able to maintain confidentiality on sensitive and confidential information

· be supportive of the values (and ethics) of the Charity

· understand the importance and purpose of meetings, and be committed to preparing for them adequately and attending them regularly

· be able to analyse information and, when necessary, challenge constructively

· be able to make collective decisions and stand by them

Trustee arrangements

Wonderseekers is governed by a Board of up to 12 trustees who hold collective responsibility for the charity’s strategic direction and governance. The position on the Board is voluntary. Once elected, Trustees can serve a maximum of 3 terms of 3 years.

Currently, Board meetings take place once per quarter, usually in January, April, July and November. Meetings are held on a mixture of days and evenings, with plenty of prior notice and consideration to individual availability given where possible.

You will be expected to attend at least four board meetings per year. We also hold an annual strategy day usually in September. In addition you will also sit on at least one committee. Committees generally meet up to four times per year. Meetings are between one and three hours and a hybrid option is usually available. Additional time for reviewing papers and building relationships with the senior management team as required should also be factored in. There may also be opportunities to attend special events.

You may find it useful to look at the guidance on Trustees from the Charity Commission "The Essential Trustee"

We are committed to investing in our trustees and therefore trustee training is available.

In addition we have an expenses policy to enable trustees to claim back travel expenses.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining us, please contact Laura Ollis (Director of People and Culture ) with your CV and cover letter summarising your motivation for joining the Board of Trustees and what you would be able to bring to the role.

If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to this application process please do not hesitate to get in touch. If you would like to arrange an informal conversation prior to submitting an application, please contact us using the details above.

We will organise interviews on a rolling basis. The panel will include existing Trustees and the CEO, and candidates will also have the opportunity to meet the leadership team and some staff. There will be an induction session for the successful new Trustee.

We look forward to hearing from you!