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Board of Trustees members required: The Heritage Education Trust

The Heritage Education Trust (HET) is seeking to recruit a minimum of two individuals with a variety of skills and experience to join its Board of Trustees.

About us

The Heritage Education Trust was set up in 1981 to run and develop the Sandford Awards for Heritage Education which was originally administered by the Council for Environmental Education from 1978 when the first Sandford Awards were made. Their purpose was to raise the profile of the educational use of historic properties and encourage those responsible for running historic houses to appreciate their important educational role, provide support and monitor standards. The Trust is the only body in existence to provide independent quality assurance for heritage education through the nationally recognised and prestigious Sandford Awards and works in partnership with Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln to administer the award scheme. HET is a small charity, with one part time administrator.

About the Trustee role

HET is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity. Members of the Board

are therefore directors of the company. All directors are Trustees of the charity, and all Trustees are

directors. For us, the terms are interchangeable, but we tend to refer to Board members as Trustees.

As a Board member, you will play a key role in the structure and further development of the Trust’s core activity, the Sandford Awards, working directly with the Chair and Chief Executive, other members of the Board and university staff.

Trustees come from varied backgrounds who jointly take responsibility for ensuring that HET is well-run and that it delivers its charitable aims. The culture of the Board is positive, friendly and inclusive.

Role type

This is a voluntary role and there is no payment for Board members, but any reasonable, out-of- pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

What are we looking for?

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experience and have identified some areas we would like to have help. However, we welcome applications from anyone who feels they have something to give which is not on this list. HET works actively to ensure that its Trustee Board has the right skills and experience to lead the charity effectively.

We welcome specialist knowledge or skills in one of these areas relevant to HET. Please note these are not listed in priority order:

  • Treasurer/Accountancy/financial management
  • Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
  • Developing and delivering learning and education services to adults, children and young people, which promote inclusion, equal opportunities and diversity
  • Fundraising
  • Marketing, communications or public relations
  • IT / digital technology / data management
  • Legal
  • Project or programme management
  • Museums and historic buildings
  • Gardens and horticulture
  • Zoology, nature, environment
  • Safeguarding

How to apply

Download our Trustee Application Pack and Application Form:  Trustee vacancies | Heritage Education Trust

The closing date for applications is by 5pm, Sunday 4 June 2023.

Candidates will be contacted and notified of interview dates week commencing 12 June 2023

Unsuccessful candidates will also be notified.

Appointments will be made subject to an online interview, collection of references and eligibility checks including the completion of the declaration of eligibility and responsibility form to confirm your eligibility to be a trustee, our conflict of interest declaration and by following the rules for the appointment of trustees set out in the charity’s governing document.

The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do

Trustee Application Form

Please return your completed Trustee Application Form and include a copy of your CV (no more than three A4 sides) to  the Sandford Award Administrator, [email protected]

It is advisable to retain a copy for your own records.