Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre (MAVC) is recruiting three trustees to join its Trustee Board.
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre
Home-based ideally local to Metheringham in Lincolnshire
Voluntary role
Why join MAVC as a trustee?
Being a Trustee at Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre (MAVC) is rewarding as you have the opportunity to engage proactively with our super friendly volunteers, get to know the families of the former 106 Squadron veterans who flew from RAF Metheringham, learn about the stories behind the artefacts and help keep this ‘gem in the middle of nowhere’ sustainable long into the future. It is hugely rewarding and
takes commitment but it is worth it.
MAVC’s values:
Welcoming - Educational - Respectful - Enthusiastic - Inspirational
The role of the Board of Trustees
Our Trustees play a vital role in making sure that Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre (MAVC) achieves its core purpose - to advance the education of the public and provide for the general benefit of the public the preservation and conservation of the buildings, other constructions and related historic artefacts forming part the former Metheringham Airfield as defined in the lease and in connection with 106 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, No. 5 Group Bomber Command, the Royal Air Force and RAF Metheringham and by the exhibition and public display of historic and informative collections relating thereto.
Purpose of the Trustee at MAVC
The trustees have ultimate responsibility for the Museum and the charity all year round and are collectively responsible for its governance. The role of trustees is to ensure that the Museum and charity has a clear vision and strategic direction, is sustainable and complies with the law. We have a Chair of meetings and all trustees have an equal role in managing the museum and charity with specific roles that capture their interests and experience.
Your overall responsibility
Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees should always act as a group and not as individuals.
The Trustees oversee the overall management and administration of the charity and are expected to engage proactively with our volunteers and members. We also ensure that the organisation has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision to inspire everyone with the Story of Metheringham Airfield remembering and keeping alive the stories of 106 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, No. 5 Group Bomber Command, The Royal Air Force, RAF Metheringham, US 52nd Troop Carrier Wing, the people who shaped it and its place in our lives.
What are we looking for?
Above all, we are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of composition and thinking of our board. Listed below are some areas which we are currently seeking to develop within the organisation. There are opportunities for people with relevant interests and or skills to play a leading role in one of the following aspects of the governance of the museum:
● Project Management
● Publicity, Marketing and Community development and engagement
● Museum - curatorial and accreditation
(Other skills that applicants may have experience of or are willing to learn about)
● Fundraising
● Property management including buildings and maintenance
● Retail, Front of House in a museum or the hospitality sector
● Law and Legal
● Administration and Secretarial
Person specification
It is essential that trustees should have/be:
● The ability to think strategically and creatively, demonstrate objectivity, good judgement and analytical ability.
● A willingness to learn.
● Good communication, team-working and interpersonal skills.
● Tactful, diplomatic and able to build relationships.
● Fair, impartial and open to new ideas.
● Experience of trusteeship/committee member of a charity or other voluntary organisation.
Key Responsibilities of this Trustee role
The role of a trustee for the Museum is varied, exciting and hugely rewarding. Key responsibilities for this trustee role are:
● Ensuring that MAVC pursues its stated objectives, as defined in its Constitution, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy
● Ensuring that MAVC complies with its Constitution, charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations
● Ensuring that MAVC applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives and powers.
● Ensuring that MAVC defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
● Safeguarding the good name and values of MAVC
● Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of MAVC, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
● Ensuring the financial stability of MAVC
● Scrutinising documents, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise
● Leading discussions and reporting findings as tasked by the chairman
● Protecting and managing the property of MAVC and ensuring the proper use of its funds
● Ensuring that good working relationships are made and maintained with the members of the Operation Group (Volunteers who operate the visitor centre) working with them to achieve the goals and aims of the charity
Commitment
● Trustees serve for a fixed term of three years.
● The trustee board meets six times a year. Trustees are also expected to take on specific tasks and activities.
● Trustees are expected to undertake training and to develop relevant skills and knowledge as required.
● Trustees need to commit the necessary time to be effective.
● Trustees must adhere to the Museums Association Code of Ethics and all the Museum’s policies.
● Trustees are expected to act reasonably and prudently in the best interests of the Museum, never in pursuit of personal interests or the interests of another organisation and to meet the legal obligations common to all charity trustees (i.e. comply with charity law, duty of prudence and duty of care).
● Trustees are expected to adhere to Nolan's Principles of Public Life.
Want to know more and how to apply? Then please read on....
A History of MAVC
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre was first opened in 1993 on the domestic site of the former RAF Metheringham. It became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in May 2021 after many years previously as an unincorporated charity run by the Friends group. The Visitor Centre became an accredited Museum in 2017, it is independent and is currently managed by a board of five voluntary trustees. It is totally dependent on entrance fees, grants, sponsorship and donations for its income. An exciting new opportunity has arisen for the board to recruit two new trustees to help take the Museum forward into its next phase of development.
The Museum/Visitor Centre buildings and artefacts
The Visitor Centre is housed in wartime buildings on the Domestic site of the former RAF Metheringham. The wartime Gymnasium, now called the Peter Scoley Hall named after the founder of the museum and houses the larger exhibits a flying model lancaster, a full size Lancaster bomb bay door, a small range of military and civilian wartime cooking stoves and the end of the building is now a Memorial room.
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre
Home-based ideally local to Metheringham in Lincolnshire
Voluntary role
Why join MAVC as a trustee?
Being a Trustee at Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre (MAVC) is rewarding as you have the opportunity to engage proactively with our super friendly volunteers, get to know the families of the former 106 Squadron veterans who flew from RAF Metheringham, learn about the stories behind the artefacts and help keep this ‘gem in the middle of nowhere’ sustainable long into the future. It is hugely rewarding and
takes commitment but it is worth it.
MAVC’s values:
Welcoming - Educational - Respectful - Enthusiastic - Inspirational
The role of the Board of Trustees
Our Trustees play a vital role in making sure that Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre (MAVC) achieves its core purpose - to advance the education of the public and provide for the general benefit of the public the preservation and conservation of the buildings, other constructions and related historic artefacts forming part the former Metheringham Airfield as defined in the lease and in connection with 106 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, No. 5 Group Bomber Command, the Royal Air Force and RAF Metheringham and by the exhibition and public display of historic and informative collections relating thereto.
Purpose of the Trustee at MAVC
The trustees have ultimate responsibility for the Museum and the charity all year round and are collectively responsible for its governance. The role of trustees is to ensure that the Museum and charity has a clear vision and strategic direction, is sustainable and complies with the law. We have a Chair of meetings and all trustees have an equal role in managing the museum and charity with specific roles that capture their interests and experience.
Your overall responsibility
Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees should always act as a group and not as individuals.
The Trustees oversee the overall management and administration of the charity and are expected to engage proactively with our volunteers and members. We also ensure that the organisation has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision to inspire everyone with the Story of Metheringham Airfield remembering and keeping alive the stories of 106 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, No. 5 Group Bomber Command, The Royal Air Force, RAF Metheringham, US 52nd Troop Carrier Wing, the people who shaped it and its place in our lives.
What are we looking for?
Above all, we are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of composition and thinking of our board. Listed below are some areas which we are currently seeking to develop within the organisation. There are opportunities for people with relevant interests and or skills to play a leading role in one of the following aspects of the governance of the museum:
● Project Management
● Publicity, Marketing and Community development and engagement
● Museum - curatorial and accreditation
(Other skills that applicants may have experience of or are willing to learn about)
● Fundraising
● Property management including buildings and maintenance
● Retail, Front of House in a museum or the hospitality sector
● Law and Legal
● Administration and Secretarial
Person specification
It is essential that trustees should have/be:
● The ability to think strategically and creatively, demonstrate objectivity, good judgement and analytical ability.
● A willingness to learn.
● Good communication, team-working and interpersonal skills.
● Tactful, diplomatic and able to build relationships.
● Fair, impartial and open to new ideas.
● Experience of trusteeship/committee member of a charity or other voluntary organisation.
Key Responsibilities of this Trustee role
The role of a trustee for the Museum is varied, exciting and hugely rewarding. Key responsibilities for this trustee role are:
● Ensuring that MAVC pursues its stated objectives, as defined in its Constitution, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy
● Ensuring that MAVC complies with its Constitution, charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations
● Ensuring that MAVC applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives and powers.
● Ensuring that MAVC defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
● Safeguarding the good name and values of MAVC
● Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of MAVC, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
● Ensuring the financial stability of MAVC
● Scrutinising documents, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise
● Leading discussions and reporting findings as tasked by the chairman
● Protecting and managing the property of MAVC and ensuring the proper use of its funds
● Ensuring that good working relationships are made and maintained with the members of the Operation Group (Volunteers who operate the visitor centre) working with them to achieve the goals and aims of the charity
Commitment
● Trustees serve for a fixed term of three years.
● The trustee board meets six times a year. Trustees are also expected to take on specific tasks and activities.
● Trustees are expected to undertake training and to develop relevant skills and knowledge as required.
● Trustees need to commit the necessary time to be effective.
● Trustees must adhere to the Museums Association Code of Ethics and all the Museum’s policies.
● Trustees are expected to act reasonably and prudently in the best interests of the Museum, never in pursuit of personal interests or the interests of another organisation and to meet the legal obligations common to all charity trustees (i.e. comply with charity law, duty of prudence and duty of care).
● Trustees are expected to adhere to Nolan's Principles of Public Life.
Want to know more and how to apply? Then please read on....
A History of MAVC
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre was first opened in 1993 on the domestic site of the former RAF Metheringham. It became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in May 2021 after many years previously as an unincorporated charity run by the Friends group. The Visitor Centre became an accredited Museum in 2017, it is independent and is currently managed by a board of five voluntary trustees. It is totally dependent on entrance fees, grants, sponsorship and donations for its income. An exciting new opportunity has arisen for the board to recruit two new trustees to help take the Museum forward into its next phase of development.
The Museum/Visitor Centre buildings and artefacts
The Visitor Centre is housed in wartime buildings on the Domestic site of the former RAF Metheringham. The wartime Gymnasium, now called the Peter Scoley Hall named after the founder of the museum and houses the larger exhibits a flying model lancaster, a full size Lancaster bomb bay door, a small range of military and civilian wartime cooking stoves and the end of the building is now a Memorial room.
The former Ration Stores which are split into two rooms one the Zena Scoley room, named after the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council who was heavily involved with her husband Peter in setting up the original visitor centre. The second room in the former Ration Store is named after Carey Powell, a Sergeant, Wireless Operator with 106 Squadron. These two rooms form the main museum rooms and hold artefacts that reflect the story of RAF Metheringham and the seven roles of a Lancaster Crew. 106 Squadron was the only Bomber Command Squadron at RAF Metheringham although there was a Bomber Defence Flight 1690 which is also commemorated here.
There is also a wartime Picket post, now used as an office, a Blast Shelter and Stanton Air Raid shelter both wartime originals. The museum also has a hangar on site which houses the largest of the exhibits, a Dakota aircraft, KG651 which is being conserved. The museum has a small Memorial Garden, a small shop in a temporary wooden building which also acts as our reception for visitors. We also have two modern temporary buildings which house the archives and research areas. We have plans to replace some of the temporary buildings with purpose-built Nissen huts which will help to restore the site to represent how it looked during wartime. We recently completed a full repaint of the Dakota aircraft raising funds via donations and a Just Giving campaign. We are now restoring a rare AEC Matador Coles Crane for which funding is required.
Displays
The museum's permanent displays are located in the original atmospheric wartime buildings and reflect the history of RAF Metheringham and 106 Squadron. Also the history of the KG651 in both her military and civilian career. We have some digital interactive touch screens for use by children and adults to learn more about the crews who served at RAF Metheringham.
Members
We have a lecture programme of 8 lectures a year usually held on the last Wednesday of the month from March to October. We have a membership and this runs from January to December each year; membership includes free entry to the museum for the year and free entry to the lecture programme and a newsletter issued 4 times a year.
Learning and Education
We have a schools programme which is for primary school children between 7 and 11 and community groups such as Scouts and Beavers visit. All children’s activities are done outside the standard opening hours of the museum. All roles are undertaken by volunteers.
Operational Aspects
The Operational aspects of running the visitor centre are managed by a sub-committee called the Operational Group (OG); a small number of trustees sit on this committee in an operational capacity. The OG meets monthly and it is chaired by a Volunteer. A record of decisions and requests for guidance on policy are provided to trustees for the Trustee meetings. Internal communication flow is good between the OG and Trustees and visa versa. The OG is made up of volunteers who lead certain areas of operation of the visitor centre.
The museum is open 3 days a week, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays and bank holidays seasonally from the last weekend in March to the last weekend in October. Admission charges for 2023 are £5.00 or £5.50 with Gift Aid. children under 16 are free.
Interested applicants:
The Essential Trustee 6 main duties https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/544220/Jigsaw.pdf
Charity Commission Website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission
Museum Code of Ethics https://www.museumsassociation.org/campaigns/ethics/code-of-ethics/#
If you are interested in applying to become a member of the Trustee Board then please complete this form Please say why you are interested in becoming a trustee at MAVC, what you can bring to the organisation and what skills and experience you have.
Suitable applicants will be contacted and invited for an formal interview via Zoom. You will be sent questions before the interview and if successful references from two referees will be sought.
Closing Date for applications for this round is 10th November 2023.
Any questions you may have please contact Mark Farrow secretary@metheringhamairfield.co.uk
There is also a wartime Picket post, now used as an office, a Blast Shelter and Stanton Air Raid shelter both wartime originals. The museum also has a hangar on site which houses the largest of the exhibits, a Dakota aircraft, KG651 which is being conserved. The museum has a small Memorial Garden, a small shop in a temporary wooden building which also acts as our reception for visitors. We also have two modern temporary buildings which house the archives and research areas. We have plans to replace some of the temporary buildings with purpose-built Nissen huts which will help to restore the site to represent how it looked during wartime. We recently completed a full repaint of the Dakota aircraft raising funds via donations and a Just Giving campaign. We are now restoring a rare AEC Matador Coles Crane for which funding is required.
Displays
The museum's permanent displays are located in the original atmospheric wartime buildings and reflect the history of RAF Metheringham and 106 Squadron. Also the history of the KG651 in both her military and civilian career. We have some digital interactive touch screens for use by children and adults to learn more about the crews who served at RAF Metheringham.
Members
We have a lecture programme of 8 lectures a year usually held on the last Wednesday of the month from March to October. We have a membership and this runs from January to December each year; membership includes free entry to the museum for the year and free entry to the lecture programme and a newsletter issued 4 times a year.
Learning and Education
We have a schools programme which is for primary school children between 7 and 11 and community groups such as Scouts and Beavers visit. All children’s activities are done outside the standard opening hours of the museum. All roles are undertaken by volunteers.
Operational Aspects
The Operational aspects of running the visitor centre are managed by a sub-committee called the Operational Group (OG); a small number of trustees sit on this committee in an operational capacity. The OG meets monthly and it is chaired by a Volunteer. A record of decisions and requests for guidance on policy are provided to trustees for the Trustee meetings. Internal communication flow is good between the OG and Trustees and visa versa. The OG is made up of volunteers who lead certain areas of operation of the visitor centre.
The museum is open 3 days a week, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays and bank holidays seasonally from the last weekend in March to the last weekend in October. Admission charges for 2023 are £5.00 or £5.50 with Gift Aid. children under 16 are free.
Interested applicants:
The Essential Trustee 6 main duties https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/544220/Jigsaw.pdf
Charity Commission Website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission
Museum Code of Ethics https://www.museumsassociation.org/campaigns/ethics/code-of-ethics/#
If you are interested in applying to become a member of the Trustee Board then please complete this form Please say why you are interested in becoming a trustee at MAVC, what you can bring to the organisation and what skills and experience you have.
Suitable applicants will be contacted and invited for an formal interview via Zoom. You will be sent questions before the interview and if successful references from two referees will be sought.
Closing Date for applications for this round is 10th November 2023.
Any questions you may have please contact Mark Farrow secretary@metheringhamairfield.co.uk
