Vacancy for a Trustee covering Heritage Buildings/Assets and Landscape
Sheffield General Cemetery Trust (SGCT) – Where Nature Meets Heritage – is seeking a Trustee with interest and some knowledge of heritage buildings, assets and/or landscapes to join our friendly team of passionate Trustees to help to safeguard, develop and support a fascinating and historic 13 acre Grade 2* listed Cemetery and landscape.
What is the Sheffield General Cemetery Trust and what will you be doing?
The Sheffield General Cemetery is a fascinating and historic 13-acre green space in the heart of Sheffield, which offers something for everyone. Opened in 1836 and closed in 1976 it is a public park owned by Sheffield City Council and is home to 87,000 residents who helped build the City of Sheffield. It is one of only 2 grade 2* listed landscapes in Sheffield and contains 10 listed buildings and monuments. It is also a Local Nature Reserve and a Conservation Area.
In 1989 local residents formed a group to save the Cemetery from dereliction, and since 2003 the Sheffield General Cemetery Trust has taken that vision forwards. The Trust is volunteer led with almost 100 volunteers and 3 part time staff. SGCT has restored the grade 2* listed Gatehouse and Samuel Worth Chapel, which are now in daily use. The Chapel is the hub for our for activities and fundraising events as well as being available for hire and community events, whilst the Gatehouse is home to a popular holiday let and our office and stores. SGCT maintains its 2 buildings, and its landscape teams maintain and improve the site for our c200,000 visitors each year. We also organise a wide range of fundraising events, research and publish publications and exhibitions, deliver guided tours, and we have to raise all the funds we need to do all this.
The Cemetery site has just benefitted from a National Lottery Funded project that has helped to maintain the structure of the Cemetery for the next 100 years as well as improving interpretation of the site. SGCT’s core aims are to develop the Cemetery as a heritage, environmental and education amenity for Sheffield. Therefore, we wish to increase our Trustee team to achieve this.
There is a monthly evening Trustee meeting but many other possibilities for involvement as well. Whilst several of our Trustees have come through from being volunteers, more recent joiners have not, leading to a mix of experiences and skills. We are, of necessity, a hands on board and each Trustee has particular areas of interest which they oversee. The successful applicant will help to guide the wider team of Trustees, especially in matters related to the heritage aspects of the Trust, and contribute to the strategic and day to day management of the Trust. There is also the opportunity to help SGCT develop better links to other heritage organisations both locally and further afield, and the Trust has 2 potential major new building conservation projects to get our teeth into.
What are we looking for?
A person ideally should have experience of managing in a heritage or similar organisation, perhaps managing either a landscape or heritage assets, or involvement in heritage or environmental projects. Knowledge relating to conservation within an urban green space or an understanding of bio-diversity in a landscape would be beneficial but not essential. Past experience of being a Trustee is not essential as training will be available, but experience of a management role within an organisation will be useful.
What difference will you make?
As part of the Trustee team you will support and shape our strategic direction as well as help in specific fields of expertise and contribute to the smooth and safe operation of the Trust. Using past and present skills and experience, you will help ensure that the Charity achieves its core purposes as well as looking forward to safeguard its future. Like the many people who have been involved over the past 35 years you will have the satisfaction of being a custodian of an ever-changing historic site and continuing the story of a well-loved and unique green space near the heart of Sheffield.
How to apply
To find out more about SGCT please see our website gencem.org, or contact Dave Hunt at [email protected] or 07960 094229. To apply please send a CV and a covering letter to Tracey Harrison-Marr at [email protected].