Are you someone who values the importance of history in our society and wishes to be part of building its future? Would you like to make a difference to the UK’s national centre for history at a time of real and exciting change? Can you offer your expertise and guidance and open doors that enable a strong future for history? Join the IHR Trust and contribute to fundraising for the future of the discipline.
There are currently four vacancies. The term of office is five years (renewable once) and can be taken up immediately or at an agreed future date. We are seeking individuals from the UK and worldwide and applicants should possess one or more of the following attributes:
- Passion and respect for history and its vital role in education and policy
- Experience of fundraising in not-for-profit/charity/third sector or of grant making on behalf of educational or cultural entities
- Experience of strategies to diversify audiences
- Knowledge of entities, charitable trusts, or individuals, who may be interested is supporting the IHR
- Financial, investment or legal expertise relevant to a charitable trust.
If you believe that the understanding, promotion, and study of history have never been more keenly needed and that you can offer guidance and open doors for us, then we would like to hear from you. You will use these skills to help grow our income, widen our networks, and champion the importance of history and historians at this exciting time for the IHR. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups and communities.
The closing date for completed applications is 23:59 on Friday 1 December 2023.
About the IHR
The Institute for Historical Research (IHR) was founded in 1921 as an intellectual home for historians. Since then, it has grown into a national centre for history, promoting and facilitating the work of historians across the country. Apart from its own postgraduate degree programmes and rich research culture, the IHR supports over 60 specialist seminars; a public and academic events programme attracting over 10,000 participants annually; a 200,000-volume research library with over 3,000 members; digital resources and publications that support historical research internationally; and the largest Early Career Research Fellowship programme for history in the UK, with over 20 fellowships awarded annually.
It is important to the IHR to widen its reach to include all those interested in history, to train the historians of the future, to work with government to ensure that the study of history and the humanities is at the heart of shaping public policy, and to provide a voice for the profession. For further details, see our current strategy.
About the IHR Trust
The IHR Trust was established in 1999 (Charity Commission number: 1077592). Its objectives are to advance the education of the public in history, by undertaking, promoting, and supporting historical research. Since its inception, it has done so by fundraising for the Institute of Historical Research (IHR), which is part of the University of London’s School of Advanced Study. The Trust manages an endowment fund which is currently £2m, as well as designated funds supporting bursaries, fellowships, events and services supporting historians. The Trust is supported by the IHR Director, Professor Claire Langhamer and her team. The Chair of the Trust is Professor Matthew Hilton (Queen Mary, University of London).
Your role as a Trustee
As a Trustee you will help support fundraising for activities outlined in the IHR’s strategy, 2020-2025. The main fundraising priorities fall into four main categories: People, Resources, Activities and Research. Please see our Case for Support to see more about these priorities.
The specific responsibilities of Trustees are:
- to ensure the financial stability of the Trust
- to protect and manage the Trust’s endowments
- to attend Trustee meetings three times a year;
- to ensure that major decisions and policies are made by the Trustees acting collectively;
- to attend the Trust’s events whenever possible and participate actively, if requested;
- to introduce new contacts to the IHR from personal and professional networks;
- to contribute in other ways to the Trust’s work, depending on the individual’s skills, interests, contacts, and experience (the Chair to discuss with each Trustee at the outset)
The role is unremunerated but travel expenses within the UK can be reimbursed.
Next steps
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to Professor Claire Langhamer at claire.langhamer@sas.ac.uk
The closing date for completed applications is 23:59 on Friday 1 December 2023.
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