Information for Prospective Trustees of the Wordsworth Trust

Introduction

The Wordsworth Trust is based at in , where Wordsworth lived during his ‘Golden Decade’ (1799–1808) and wrote most of what is now regarded as his most important work. It has been described as ‘the finest literary museum in the world’.

Dove Cottage and the adjacent Wordsworth Museum are visited by tens of thousands of people each year. As well as operating a busy visitor attraction, the Wordsworth Trust maintains most of the conservation area of Town End and looks after a unique collection of manuscripts, books and fine art relating the Romantic period (1750-180), an epoch that helped to shape the modern world. It runs thriving education, exhibitions, events and community programmes. It is also an international centre for research and scholarship.

The Wordsworth Trust is funded by Arts Council as a National Portfolio Organisation and by South Lakeland District Council as a Strategic Cultural Partner. It is part of the Museum Consortium, together with the Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery Trust (Carlisle) and Lakeland Arts (Kendal and Bowness-on-Windermere).

New Trustees will join the Wordsworth Trust at a pivotal moment in its history. In March 2018, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the Trust a grant of £4.1 million for the delivery phase of ‘Reimagining Wordsworth’. Along with a grant of £500,000 from the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund this puts the Wordsworth Trust on course to make profound and exciting changes to its site and activities. ‘Reimagining Wordsworth’ will enable more people, from a more diverse range of backgrounds, to discover Wordsworth’s poetry. Its completion will coincide with a nationwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of Wordsworth’s birth in 2020.

Designed around People, Poetry and Place – three themes at the heart of Wordsworth’s story, the aims of Reimagining Wordsworth are:

• To realise the full potential of the Trust’s heritage to provide lasting, life-changing experiences • To reach a larger and more diverse range of audiences • To create a more financially and environmentally sustainable organisation

For more information about Reimagining Wordsworth please visit www.reimaginingwordsworth.org.uk. For information on the Trust and its work please see our latest Annual Review, or visit www.wordsworth.org.uk

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The Board of Trustees

The Wordsworth Trust is both a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee having no share capital, and is governed by its charitable objects within its Articles of Association. The directors of the company have certain legal, financial and fiduciary duties under company law and they must also comply with charity law.

Even though many of these duties are delegated to staff, the ultimate joint responsibility for every aspect of the company’s operation lies with the Board of Trustees. It is therefore important that all Trustees ensure that they understand their duties, the history of the Trust, and its relationship with its stakeholders and keep abreast of other issues that might affect the Trust. The Board of Trustees is legally responsible for ensuring that the organisation achieves its mission. As a Board, it provides strategic guidance for the organisation, using its members’ skills, backgrounds and contacts to assist the organisation. For the duties of Trustees please see Appendix A.

The Opportunity

Vacancies on the Board of Trustees (“the Board”) have arisen as a result of a number of Trustees retiring, having served their maximum term. The Board is looking to appoint people who: have a commitment to the arts and heritage and enthusiasm for the Trust’s ambition and work, complement the skills and talents of the existing board members, can think strategically, will work collaboratively and can make a significant contribution to the future of the organisation. We are especially keen to increase the diversity of our board and welcome applications from all sectors of the community.

Person Specification

Experience We are interested in hearing from individuals from all sectors of the community, both those who are new to non-executive/trustee board work, and individuals who have a track record in board work in a variety of sectors at a senior level.

In particular, we are seeking applications from people with knowledge and professional experience of one or more of:

 Finance  Business/Commercial (particularly tourism-related)  New media  Legal  Community engagement  Fundraising  Education (particularly higher education)  Local/regional networks  Wordsworth and

Skills  Commitment to the Trust

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 Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort  Strategic vision  Good, independent judgment  Ability to think creatively  Willingness to speak their mind  Understanding the acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship  Ability to work effectively as a member of a team  Demonstrating selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

Other  Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship  Awareness of Nolan's seven principles of public life - selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership  Experience of corporate governance is desirable but not essential  Good networks and the ability to act as a champion for the Trust  A preparedness to offer their specialist, personal and business skills and experience to support the work of the staff when required.

Time Commitment

Trustees of the Wordsworth Trust are voluntary and unpaid, although we will cover expenses. The willingness and capacity to devote the necessary time and effort are essential.

Trustees are required to attend four Board meetings a year. Occasionally, extraordinary meetings are convened to consider urgent issues or decisions. Trustees are also required to contribute to committee work and, where appropriate, fundraising activities. In addition to the above, Trustees will need to allocate time to study papers in advance of meetings.

Trustees are encouraged to attend Wordsworth Trust events, in Grasmere and elsewhere.

Two of the Trustees’ meetings are held at the Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere, with the other two being held in London. The Grasmere meetings (including subcommittees) are spread over a Friday and Saturday. The London meetings normally take place on a Wednesday afternoon, and focus mainly on finance and strategic issues.

Appointments are made for a term of three years. Board members may serve a maximum of three terms.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying, please submit a CV and covering letter, addressed to McGregor, The Director, explaining how you believe your skills and experience match the requirements of the role. Applications should be emailed to: [email protected]

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Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of two referees.

Candidate Information – Appendix A

Duties of Trustees

The duties of a Trustee are:-

1. To ensure that the Trust complies with its Memorandum and Articles of Association, Charity law, Company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

2. To ensure that the Trust operates within its charitable objects.

3. To ensure that the Trust applies its resources exclusively in furtherance of its objects.

4. To act collectively with other Trustees and to contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role of giving firm strategic direction to the Trust, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

5. To act in the best interests of the Trust and safeguard its good name and values.

6. To accept ultimate responsibility for everything the Trust does.

7. To act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to the Trust.

8. To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Trust.

9. To ensure the financial stability of the Trust.

10. To protect and manage the property of the Trust and to ensure the proper investment of its funds.

11. To appoint and support the Director and monitor his or her performance

12. To avoid any personal conflict between their personal interests and those of the Trust.

13. In addition to the above statutory duties of all Trustees, each Trustee should use any specific knowledge or experience he or she may have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This will involve scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues and providing advice and guidance requested by the Board on new initiatives or other issues relevant to the area of the Trust’s work in which the Trustee has special expertise.

14. To serve, where requested, on a committee.

For further information regarding the duties of charity trustees please see the booklet, “The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do”.

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