We invite applications from anyone who is interested in joining the Board of Trustees of Redhills.
Further information on the responsibility of these roles, the skills and experience required for each role and the process for application is included in this pack.
Trustees must be legally eligible to serve and all potential trustees will be required to complete the ‘Trustee Eligibility Declaration’ prior to appointment as a Trustee.
If you wish to apply to be a Redhills Trustee then please contact us by email nick@redhillsdurham.org attaching your CV and cover letter explaining why you are interested in joining us and what skills and experience you could bring to the work of the Board. Please also state if you are applying to be a Trustee or the Chair of Trustees.
10th May - Applications Open
2nd July 12pm - Application Deadline
July (Dates TBC) – Interviews & appointment
Sept (Dates TBC) - Trustee inductions and away day
If you wish to discuss the roles or need more information before applying, please contact:
Nick Malyan -CEO
Email: nick@redhillsdurham.org
Office: 0191 323 3658
Mobile: 07766 000930
The Redhills Charity was established in 2021 to hold in trust and manage the Grade II listed Redhills Miners Hall in Durham. We are currently seeking to recruit new members to our trustee board.
Trustees will join the charity at a critical point in its development, supporting the multi-million pound revitalisation of a building described by Historic England as one of the nation’s “100 Irreplaceable Places”. In 2022 the charity was invited to join the Arts Council of England’s national portfolio of regularly funded organisations and is playing a central role in a UNESCO World Heritage bid.
The work of the charity represents a significant step for the coal mining heritage and people’s history nationally but is of particular importance to County Durham’s coalfield communities. Redhills is therefore looking to recruit a diverse range of trustees, with a breadth of skills and experience to support this next critical phase of our journey - particularly those with connections to County Durham.
The trustees will ensure that people who are appointed to the Board will receive the training and support needed so that they can play a full part as a trustee as quickly as possible. If you feel you have the skills, experience, commitment and enthusiasm to play a central role in the charity’s work we would like to hear from you.
Redhills opened in 1915 as the headquarters of the Durham Miners Association (DMA). The Hall, which is a Grade II listed building, is also known as the ‘Pitman’s Parliament’. In recent decades, the Hall fell into a state of disrepair. Now, exciting plans for extensive refurbishment and development are underway.
The Redhills project has secured more than £8million in National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and from a range of other sources to preserve the long term legacy of the miners hall. The funding will support the major works to the Hall, for its restoration and renewal as a centre for culture, heritage and education. With the addition of new buildings with modern facilities and improved accessibility, Redhills will offer a wide-ranging programme of activities and community resources.
The renewed Redhills will use cutting-edge audio-visual technology to bring to life the rich history and culture of Durham’s coalfield.
Building work at Redhills is due to get underway in 2023. Business planning and pilot programmes currently indicate an annual turnover of circa £1m will be achievable upon reopening in 2024.
The Board of Trustees endeavour to ensure a range and mix of skills are represented at Board level and this will be considered when appointing new Trustees. In addition, the trustees strive to achieve a diverse Board that will reflect its equality and diversity policy and bring a wider range of lived experience from across a range of diverse backgrounds.
The Board is seeking especially to recruit members from a working class background, particularly with connections to, and experience of living or working in, our former coalfield communities. In addition, we would specifically welcome applications from women, younger people, people of colour those identifying as LGBTQIA+ and people with lived experience of disability (visible or invisible) or longterm health conditions.
Reasonable expenses can be paid for participation in board duties. A full induction will be offered to all successful candidates, where helpful mentoring can be provided for first-time-trustees.
The following list of skills and experiences would be helpful to the work of the Trustee board but is not intended to be exhaustive;
Fundraising
Legal (ideally corporate and contracting)
Financial Management
Leading or working within community development
Leading or working at a senior level within a cultural/arts organisation
Planning and strategic management
In addition, it is expected that all Trustees will be able to demonstrate:
a commitment and enthusiasm for the work of Redhills
a commitment to work in the best interests of charity at all times
a professional approach to the work and development of the charity and Board
Trustees will ideally have access to wider networks and will act in an ambassadorial role, representing the Charity among those networks.
Trustees are appointed through the procedures set out in the governing document (the Constitution) and following the process agreed upon by the Board of trustees.
Trustees must be eligible to serve as a trustee of a charity, therefore all potential trustees will be required to complete the ‘Trustee Eligibility Declaration’ prior to appointment.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise trustees are appointed to serve for a term of 3 years and will be eligible to stand for re-appointment for a further term of 3 years.
The Charity requires that Trustees attend meetings of the Board and sub-committees regularly. We expect those appointed as trustees will have the time to commit to the role, and we offer the flexibility to attend virtually when required.
It is essential that Trustees understand the governance and management processes and can carry out their role both diligently and efficiently, and support and training will be available for all Trustees as agreed with the Board.
The duties of the Trustees are to:
Fulfil responsibilities as required by the current Charity Act and all other relevant legislation.
Represent the best interests of the charity in all matters relating to Redhills
Work with the Chair, other trustees and Chief Executive Officer to agree and monitor the 5 year strategic plan for the organisation for the achievement of the overall charitable objectives and mission.
Sit on and contribute to relevant working groups or subcommittees relating to the charity’s legal, financial and operational processes.
Receive, scrutinise and analyse regular financial reports and progress information provided by the CEO, Treasurer, accountant, auditor or sub-committees of the Board
Promote the interests of the charity in their wider networks
To find out more about being a Trustee please visit Charity Commissions website here
The Board of trustees wish to appoint a Chairperson to serve for a term of three years.
The Chairperson will provide leadership and direction for the board of trustees and enable it to fulfil its roles and responsibilities within an overall framework of good governance practice. The Chairperson will work in partnership and liaise with the Board, senior staff and advisers as appropriate.
The person appointed to the role of Chairperson is likely to have proven experience of acting as chairperson of a charity/not for profit board, company board or similar.
It is expected that the person appointed to the role of Chairperson will bring with them a wide network and is likely to have a high profile within that network.
In addition, the Chairperson is expected to demonstrate the following skills, abilities and attitudes.
Promote cohesion and trust for the Board and senior staff. Chair meetings ensuring that all meetings are managed effectively, and decisions made and acted upon.
Interrogate business and strategic plans and summarise issues and decisions to aid board deliberators and decision making. Be financially competent to the level required for ensuring effective scrutiny of management accounts and audited accounts at Board level.
Undertake annual appraisals of the Chief Officer using the agreed process.
Act in a public relations/ambassadorial role as appropriate. Communicate well, including the ability to make preventions, speak to and liaise with the key stakeholders and the media.
In addition to the overall responsibilities as a trustee, the key responsibilities and duties of the Chairperson are as follows:
Board Meetings
Convene and chair meetings of the Board and ensure that the business of those meetings is conducted efficiently and effectively.
Consult with the Chief Officer and Treasurer on the preparation of agendas and supporting papers to be presented to meetings of the Board.
Ensure all reports and papers to be presented to the board are circulated in sufficient time to allow for considering and pre meeting preparation.
Read, interrogate and comment on business development and other proposals put forward by the Chief Officer. Ensure that appropriate policies will underpin the governance of the Charity and its business are developed and maintained and that the Charity adheres to those policies in its governance, management, planning and decision-making.
Ensure the board has the information and support to fulfil their role effectively and diligently.
Liaison with Senior Staff
Have regular meetings with the Chief Officer to keep up to date with progress, key issues arising from the work of the charity and issues that are likely to require Board consideration and action.
Act as a sounding board for proposals and ideas presented by the Chief Officer.
Human Resources required.
Be part of appointment panels for appointment of senior staff. Provide supervision of Chief Officer in her/his role through the annual appraisal process agreed by the Board.
The Chairperson will have a public relations role and speak on behalf of Redhills CIO when necessary. In addition, the Chairperson will ensure that the Board is represented in its dealings with external agencies and other organisations when
It is expected that in fulfilling the above responsibilities the Chairperson will contribute the equivalent of two days per month.
Board meetings are currently being held once per month during the development phase, but this is likely to be reduced when sub committees are established, full staffing is in place and the newly refurbished Redhills is operational.
Meetings are held both in person at Redhills and virtually using zoom or a similar online meetings resource. The role of Trustee of the charity is voluntary although reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed according to the rates agreed by the Board.
John Tomaney was born and brought up in County Durham, where his family has lived for generations. He is Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at University College London.
In his academic work, among other things, John has written extensively about the past and present development of the Durham coalfield. He likes pubs, hills and long walks –preferably in combination.
Ray Mills has a background in finance having been a Partner at PwC where he worked in the Infrastructure and Government team focused on regeneration and real estate and he also created and led the firm’s Social Investment and Enterprise advisory team.
He is a Trustee of Keep Britain Tidy and the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne and an investor and adviser to a number of earlystage businesses across various sectors in the North East region from media to housebuilding.
Rachael is a heritage practitioner, curator and writer. She currently works as Strategic Cultural Partnership Manager at Newcastle University. Rachael sits on the Collections Management Group for Queer Britain and is the founder of the Queer Heritage and Collections Network.
Rachael grew up in Birtley and Chester-LeStreet and now lives in Durham city. She has worked for a range of independent museums and galleries across the North and published Wedded Wife: A Feminist History of Marriage in 2023.
Stephen spent his formative years in Seaham Harbour before moving to Durham City in 1985. He is a former Durham Miner, has held elected positions within the NUM and is Chairman of the Durham Miners’ Association and board member of the Durham Aged Miners’ Association.
the Chief Executive Officer of the Processing Institute, a not-for-profit, search centre based in Teesside, which ued from closure in 2014. He holds national roles associated with industry decarbonisation. Chris has been part of gion’s brass band movement since childhood, including as a member of the Durham Miners’ Association Band.
