Almond Valley Heritage Trust

Almond Valley Heritage Trust Trustee Candidate PackA charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783 ABOUT US Almond Valley Heritage Trust Centre is a remarkable testament to the aspirations ofour community. The story of Almond Valley begins in the late 1960's, when a localvolunteer group came together to salvage and safeguard the historic Livingston Mill,farm steading and water wheel for future generations. Over the course of a decade, they worked to return the watermill and waterwheel backto their former glory, and in doing so catalysed a series of community led initiativesthat helped reimagine a once derelict site into a much-needed community asset. The introduction of a city farm and later the Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry,an accredited museum, paved the way for the emergence of Almond Valley HeritageCentre, creating a permanent space to celebrate the extraordinary history of WestLothian.Almond Valley Heritage Trust was formed in 1990, creating an appropriate governancestructure to advance the aims/ambitions of the site and to ensure its future. Nowspanning 23 acres of natural, built and cultural heritage, encompassing a rare breedfarm, and with an ever-evolving interactive education programme, we have emerged asa charity of real purpose and a cultural beacon for the region.  Welcoming over 157,000 visitors a year, and appealing to local, national andinternational visitors who are seeking an authentic, joyful heritage experience, orsimply a day out to let of steam and connect/reconnect with each other and the planet,we continue to harness the power of heritage to forge shared moments of joy andinspire a better world. A charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783 OUR MISSION We exist to celebrate the value ofheritage through the power of play,igniting curiosity, and inspiring joyfulengagement in our past, present andfuture for, all ages.WHAT WE DOThe Trust’s main activity is the operation and development of Almond ValleyHeritage Centre (popularly known simply as “Almond Valley”);  a 23-acre sitecentered around the historic buildings of Livingston Mill and Farm. Since itsformation in 1990, the Trust has steadily added to the facilities and attractions ofthe Almond Valley site, progressively developing its popular appeal as a leisuredestination that holds particular appeal to families with young children. Admissioncharges and other visitor services, such as catering, rides and gift sales, provide theTrust’s major sources of revenue income.Comprising of a rare breed farm, an abundance of natural habitat, built heritage, amuseum and an array of imaginative and active play areas, Almond Valley providesa wonderfully authentic and accessible environment for families, schools andspecialist interest groups to engage, connect and discover the heritage and explorethe symbiotic relationship between people and planet.OUR VISION We inspire a lifelong love and enduringvalue of our our past, nurturing peopleand place and illuminating a betterfuture.A charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783 2024 marked a year of major transition for Almond Valley Heritage Trust, as long-standing Director, Robin Chesters, retired after a tenure of over 35 years replaced byJen Howard Coombes, an experienced arts & culture business leader.The change of leadership signalled a new chapter for Almond Valley, concentratingour efforts on strengthening our foundations, building resilience and relevance in theface of shifting consumer behaviours, and a rapidly changing world.In just 12 months, remarkable progress has been made, in relation to visitorexperience, community engagement, workforce development, and digitaltransformation. We also experienced significant growth and diversification in ourvisitor base, increasing our audiences by 13.2% and welcoming a significant numberof first time visitors, which in turn increased income and spend per head. Our new strategy sets out an ambitious direction of travel, repositioning heritage frontand centre of our audience experience and building resilience and relevance byachieving fundamental transformations in our service. Specifically, we aspire tobecome a data driven organisation, harnessing insight to inform our direction of travel,resulting in an agile and people centred organisation. We will achieve thistransformation in collaboration with our workforce, our community, industry,academia, peer organisations and government because together we can have a muchgreater impactWHERE ARE WE NOW A charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783 STRATEGIC AIMSPEOPLE & PLACE - Inspire and develop our workforce and harness the heritagein our care to nurture our communities, supporting social, cultural and economictransformation.LEARNING & DISCOVERY - Work in cross sector collaboration to inspire creativity anda lifelong appetite for heritage based learning and discovery.REACH & ENGAGE - Engage with the broadest possible workforce and audiencethrough a multifaceted, people centred and inclusive approach and programme thatprioritises inclusivity and relevanceSUSTAINABILITY - Put the organisation on a sustainable financial footing and advanceour environmental strategy to minimise the negative impact our activities have on ourplanet..“Was there helping out onschool trip first time aswelland this place is brilliant,Great for all ages” K Sneddon“A wonderful place for kids to explore, imagine, and play! Theoutdoor play village is thoughtfully designed with engaging,hands-on activities that kept our little ones entertained for hours.Everything felt safe, clean, and well-maintained, and the staffwere friendly and welcoming. A perfect day out for families –we’ll definitely be back!”“Beautiful place with loadsof activities for kids, lots ofanimals and plenty of placesfor the little ones to burnenergy. And the best part isthat you can bring a packedlunch and the tickets is forthe whole day”.  A. AdepojuA charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783 Our Board of Trustees play a key role in the oversight of the charity, ensuring that itdelivers its charitable objectives, is strategically focused, financially resilient, and hasstrong governance. They provide strategic insight and governance of the charity’soperations, supporting, challenging and advising the Executive Team and ensuringthe implementation of our strategy. Responding to a recent skills audit, and informed by our new five year strategy, wehave identified skills gaps within our Board. We are particularly keen to hear fromcandidates with expertise in:Human Resources: to support governance, volunteer engagement, and workforcedevelopment. PR, Marketing and Communications: to help grow our audience, increaseengagement, and enhance our digital presence. Museums & Heritage: to provide insight into collections, curation, and visitorexperience. Arts & Culture – to support creative programming, community engagement, andcultural partnerships. Fundraising – to help us secure vital funding and build strong relationships withdonors and grant-giving bodies. BOARD RECRUITMENTA charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783 TRUSTEE COMMITMENTThe term of office is 4 years with the option to serve for a further 3 years.Trustees would be expected to commit to:Attending Board meetings: max 6 per year (in person/hybrid) 2 hrs per meetingAttending agreed Board training/away days (no more than one a year)Occasional attendance/presence at workforce events This is a voluntary role and is unpaid, although reasonable expenses will bereimbursed in line with the organisations expenses policy. If you would like to be considered for a Trustee position, please provide thefollowing:Written statement outlining why you wish to be a Trustee and bringing tolife the skills that you will bring to the role and the ways in which you willcontribute An up to date CV including the details for two refereesIf you are shortlisted, you will be invited to meet with our Chair/Vice Chair for abrief meeting at a mutually agreeable time. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the appointmentsprocess or if you require further support with your application,  please contactTracy Smart  tracy@almondvalley.co.ukIf you wish to speak with a member of the Board in advance of submitting anapplication or wish to discuss an application in an alternative format pleaseemail jobs@almondvalley.co.ukPERSON SPECIFICATION & RECRUITMENT PROCESSA charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783 A charity Trustee must act in the interests of the charity and comply with 2005 Act.You will:  Be accountable for the strategic leadership and direction of Almond ValleyHeritage Trust in accordance with our aims and objectivesSupport strong governance ensuring that the organisation operates efficientlyand ethically, applying appropriate financial controls to minimise risk Act as ambassadors to the organisation promoting our work and reflecting ourvalues at all timesOur Trustees are ambassadors of the organisation, representing our purpose,mission, vision and values at all times. They come from a broad range ofbackgrounds and bring with them a diverse and relevant array of experience. As a Trustee, you will help guide the strategic direction of the Trust, ensuring stronggovernance and supporting our management team in delivering our charitableobjectives. WHAT DOES A TRUSTEE DO?TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIESNote: You don’t need to have been a trustee before – we welcome fresh perspectives andideas! We are particularly keen to hear from you if you have experience in:Human ResourcesPR, Marketing and CommunicationsMuseums & HeritageArts & CultureFundraising and share our passion for heritage, education, and community engagement.A charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783 WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM USWe will apply an open, fair and inclusive approach to our recruitmentWe will provide a comprehensive induction to successful applicants, includingaccess to governance documents, 5 year strategy, annual accounts and a boardpreparation meeting with the Chair/Vice Chair ahead of your first Board meetingOpportunity to meet/speak with the Director in advance of your first BoardmeetingOSCR Guidelines Being an effective trustee (Association of Independent Museums)USEFUL READINGA charity registered in Scotland, Registration No. SC 013783