Cogges Heritage Trust 3 x Trustees Voluntary Roles
Are you looking for an opportunity to ‘give something back’ by using your life and business skills within a charitable organisation? Cogges Manor Farm holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Witney and beyond. We are looking for additional Trustees with a range of skills and interests to join us at this exciting time in Cogges’ story. Being a part of Cogges Heritage Trust offers a pivotal opportunity to make a real difference and play a part in the future of this wonderful place.
“I joined as a Trustee in 2017 when we first moved to West Oxfordshire. The name Cogges was new to me, and I had no particular knowledge of heritage – but I quickly realised how important this place is to the people of Witney. As my tenure comes to an end, I have now become one of those people who are passionate about preserving and protecting this wonderful place for future generations. Could this also be you?” Paul Evans, Chair.
Cogges Heritage Trust which is an independent charity is seeking 3 new Trustees to add to its well-established Board, some of whom will be retiring during the next 12 months. The trust was formed in 2011 and is the charity which cares for and manages Cogges Manor Farm, a unique and diverse historic site, in Witney, West Oxfordshire. There is also a wholly owned subsidiary (Cogges Heritage Enterprises Ltd) which is responsible for the café and weddings business and has its own board of Directors. In addition, there is opportunity for an Independent Director to join the Board of Cogges Heritage Enterprises.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, and stiff economic headwinds Cogges has continued to invest in the visitor offer and are well placed for the future. This included a significant grant from the National Lottery, which has allowed the charity to improve and add interpretation around the site, make the Manor House more accessible, re-thatch the visitor entrance and improve welfare facilities for our wonderful volunteers. We believe that this investment will allow for expansion of the offer and attract new audiences.
The Board provide collective governance leadership of the organisation in support of its charitable objects. Trustees play a key role in setting the strategic direction of the organisation and overall policy, defining goals, establishing targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are eager to be part of the next phase of Cogges’ development. You will share our passion for making the Farm relevant and rewarding to a wide range of audiences, and be willing to challenge and bring fresh thinking, new ideas and entrepreneurial qualities to enable Cogges to continue its progress of recent years. This is an exciting stage in our development which is something we hope you would like to influence and be part of.
Trustees should ideally have skills & experience in one or more of these fields: Fundraising, Marketing, Events, Heritage/Tourism, Business Development, Farming & Animal Welfare, Catering/Hospitality.
There are four Board meetings (on site) and up to six sub-Committee meetings (mostly online) per annum. Board members will serve on a voluntary basis (although reasonable expenses will be paid if required).
These unremunerated roles are open to all, and we encourage anyone who feels they meet the criteria to apply. Please submit a CV and a brief accompanying letter outlining what you could bring to the role, and explaining how you meet the requirements.
In the first instance this should be sent to the current Chair of Trustees at paul.evans@cogges.org.uk.
Download the Cogges Trustee Recruitment Guide 2024 (PDF)
Download the Trustee role description (Word document)
Apply by 12pm midnight on Sunday 19th May 2024.
