Volunteer New Trustee with Financial Experience for the Silk Heritage Trust, Macclesfield, Cheshire.

What will you be doing?

We are the Silk Heritage Trust and we have an exciting opportunity for a new Trustee with a financial background. We are very keen to recruit to the Board of Trustees a new face who has enthusiasm, energy and a passion for preserving our industrial heritage here in Macclesfield.  This is a time of change, challenge and opportunity and we are seeking a new Trustee who can help drive transformation. Trustees meet four times a year for Board meetings at The Silk Museum, usually requiring a few hours in the evening. There are also various sub-committees who typically meet monthly for an hour or two to help steer through the various projects with the Museum Director and her team. Sounds like your cup of tea? Well, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you! We have The Silk Museum, housed in Macclesfield’s original Art School building, which was built in 1877. The Museum contains a wide range of exhibits relating to the silk industry, plus an extraordinary Egyptian collection created by Marianne Brocklehurst. We have ambitious plans to open a Research Room for students and members of the public to come and study our vast collection of original pattern books. In addition we have a recently revamped retail outlet with a wide range of gifts related to the silk industry and a thriving café. In Paradise Mill we have the largest collection of working silk Jacquard Handlooms in Europe, still housed in their original location. This building has recently undergone a major refurbishment with a new roof, passenger lift and alarm system installed. We are seeking a trustee with financial experience in particular to help us plan for the future. In the centre of Macclesfield we also have the historic landmark building that is the Heritage Centre. Originally a Sunday School this building now houses a number of tenants, including Cinemac, Macclesfield’s only cinema, which also hosts live events. Initial interviews will be either in person or, if preferred, via Zoom with the Chair or Vice Chair, plus the Museum Director and another trustee.

What are we looking for?

      Financial planning experience - to bring fresh thinking to managing how we strengthen our financial position and resilience Trustees are enthusiastic about the arts, heritage and audiences, have appropriate knowledge and understanding to oversee the strategic development of the Trust and to actively support delivery. They are committed to the vision, aims and plans of The Silk Heritage Trust, and can devote the necessary time and effort to support it. They have good judgement and independence; can work collectively and engage with constructive debate. They are responsible for: -

Determining the mission and strategy  Being accountable for the actions of the Trust and of those who carry out its work Managing the Board – through recruitment, induction, retirement; effective decision making, information sharing; positive group dynamics, reflection and learning  Safeguarding assets - tangible (money, property etc) and intangible (reputation and name), ensuring these are used appropriately and constitutionally

Maintaining confidentiality on sensitive and confidential information Remaining committed to the values (and ethics) of the Trust Respecting the boundaries between executive and governance functions

Trustees are responsible for making sure that everything the Silk Heritage Trust does helps achieve the purposes for which it is set up. Trustees are responsible for deciding and planning how the Silk Heritage Trust will carry out its purposes – setting strategic aims, direction and future plans. This means that Trustees need to:

understand the Trust’s purposes as set out in its governing document plan what Trust will do, and what we want it to achieve: reviewing the charity’s activities or considering new ones. understand how the Trust benefits the public by carrying out its purposes and be able to explain how its activities achieve this.

What difference will you make?

Do you want to make a real difference by helping to save part of Macclesfield’s heritage as a Trustee of the Silk Heritage Trust?

 Do you have financial planning experience? - Could you bring fresh, brave thinking to managing how we strengthen our financial position and resilience?

The Silk Heritage Trust has a 40-year track record of providing heritage, cultural and learning experiences in Macclesfield.  The Trust is at an exciting point of development and needs new Trustees to reflect the range of voices represented in our work.   The Trust is rebuilding its finances and operations post Covid.  We are embarking on an ambitious development programme to become more relevant to audiences - shouting louder about the remarkable collections, buildings and heritage experiences on offer.  We know we have made a difference to people's lives on-line and in person, and we are committed to extending this work.