Trustee, Re-Form Heritage

Location: Stoke-on-Trent

Salary: Voluntary

Time: Minimum 4 meetings per yr in Stoke-on-Trent, plus board sub-committees and events

Introduction

Are you passionate about the heritage of Stoke-on-Trent? Do you want to join the Board of a leading regeneration charity with a proven track record at a time of exciting expansion?

This is your opportunity to play a crucial role shaping the future of the Heritage Development Trust for Stoke-on-Trent, to drive positive change throughout the city through heritage led regeneration.

About the opportunity

We are looking for up to three new trustees to join our board as we enter an exciting period of growth. With a new Chief Executive in post and a re-invigorated Burleigh Pottery as one of our principal tenants, together with our expanding work to restore and bring back into community use heritage spaces across Stoke-on-Trent, we our redefining our relationship with the city and region. You will join us as we refresh our brand and set in train a new 5- year strategy.

In addition to owning and operating the Grade II* listed Middleport Pottery, a working Victorian pottery, visitor attraction and vibrant events venue we are also home to an independent community of crafters and education charities. We are currently working in partnership with heritage funders to revitalise the Grade II* listed Bethesda Chapel ‘the Cathedral of the Potteries’ and One Bethesda, located in Hanley’s Cultural Quarter alongside delivering a city-wide programme of heritage monuments restoration in conjunction with the Council. We are seeking innovative and experienced individuals as we continue our growth to revitalise further heritage spaces under our Heritage Development Trust Status.

We welcome trustees from a variety of backgrounds, and we are keen to boost the following skills on our board:

Fundraising & Philanthropy

Property Development & Regeneration

Commercial & Enterprise Development

Local Government & Public Sector Leadership

General organisational governance

Our current geographic focus as the Heritage Development Trust for Stoke-on-Trent is on the unitary authority of Stoke-on-Trent, so are actively seeking trustees who live within this area.

We are also looking for trustees who fully represent the rich diversity of people who live within this area.

Commitment

We anticipate that Trustees will need to participate in a minimum of 4 meetings per year in Stoke-on-Trent, but there will be the opportunity to play a broader role, including attending board sub-committees, staff committees, working groups and events.

All meetings will be held in person in Stoke-on-Trent.

Why become a Trustee at Re-Form Heritage?

As a Trustee you can make a difference – you will play a crucial role in guiding Re-Form’s strategic direction and help make important decisions that will have an impact on both our organisation and on the heritage of Stoke-on-Trent.

How to Apply

Application is via submission of a CV and one-page cover letter outlining your interest in the role.

Deadline for applications is 5:00 PM Friday 21 August 2026.

Please send applications and any queries to harry.wardill@re-form.org Please put ‘Re-Form Trustee’ as the subject header of application and query e-mails.

About Re-Form Heritage

Re-Form Heritage is an independent charity which specialises in the restoration and rejuvenation of heritage buildings at risk of decay or demolition. Re-Form Heritage’s objective is to transform historic buildings into local assets, creating job opportunities and catalysing wider social and economic benefit. Re-Form Heritage owns and manages Middleport Pottery, Harper Street and Bethesda Chapel in Stoke-on-Trent. It also owns the Old Duchy Palace in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, which is operated by our partners at the Cornish Buildings Preservation Trust. In December 2023 we were appointed as a heritage development trust for Stoke-on-Trent under a new Architectural Heritage Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund initiative.

Our offices are located at Middleport Pottery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent on the banks of the Trent & Mersey Canal - the last continuously operating Victorian pottery factory in Stoke, and one of the most important industrial heritage sites in the west Midlands.

For more information about our work and our sites, please visit our website: https://reform.org/