Job Description

For everyone, for ever starts with every one of us.

We’re looking for great people to help protect nature, beauty and history for the next generation. The National Trust Council is a unique opportunity to bring your skills and experience to ensure we deliver our objectives as a charity. It’s also an exciting time to join our Council as the Trust goes into a new strategy period. Our Strategy: People and Nature Thriving.

Our Council members make important appointments, help inform strategy and keep us connected to our members, local communities and the wider public. It’s important that the Council reflects the breadth and diversity of our work and the energy, enthusiasm and experience of Council members are invaluable to us. These volunteers make a real difference. And so could you. We welcome application from all members over the age of 18.

About the Council

The Council plays an important role in how the National Trust is governed. Its main responsibilities are:

• To appoint Trustees
• To monitor and support their work
• To ensure our strategy is consistent with our charitable purpose and that it is being delivered by the Board of Trustees

You can read more about our Council’s role and the Council’s current members on our website.

Council members are ambassadors for our work and inspire support for the Trust among members and the wider public.

The Council’s strength comes from the breadth of knowledge and experiences of the people on it. It has 36 members – an equal balance of elected and appointed people. The elected members are directly chosen by members of the National Trust. The appointed members come from organisations (chosen by our members every six years) which have a connection to the Trust’s work.

Wherever you are in your career path or whatever you do, your input could help us look after inspiring places for future generations. Now’s your chance to make a real difference.

Time Commitment

Council members will be elected from November 2025 for three years and can expect to spend about ten days a year on Council business. There are three Council meetings a year, including one which is held as part of a three-day visit hosted by one of our regions or countries. Meetings are likely to be a mix of in person and virtual. The time commitment is spread across these activities and includes time for preparation. There is also the opportunity to get more involved if you wish with additional briefings, informal property visits or by supporting the work of the Council’s committees.

Council meetings are usually held during the working day, allowing time for travel where appropriate. The 2026 schedule is as follows:

• Early February 2026
• Three days in June/July 2026 (regional visit)
• Early October 2026

Council members may serve a maximum of three three-year terms, subject to re-election or re-appointment. Some of our Council members go on to become Trustees.

Council membership is a voluntary role, therefore, as with all our volunteer roles, travel expenses are reimbursed, as are additional expenses incurred such as accommodation.

You can also read more about the specific responsibilities of the Council in section 1.13 of the Governance Handbook.

About You

We encourage applications from all backgrounds. Your unique ideas, experiences, and outlook will contribute to our diverse Council. Showcase your qualities and experiences—most importantly, demonstrate your passion for our work.

If you have knowledge, attributes and experience that you think will help our Council oversee our Board’s delivery of our strategy, please consider putting yourself forward.

The Council’s Nominations Committee, which oversees the election, is happy to receive applications from volunteers and non-members as well as members. However, in order to be eligible to stand for election to the Council our constitution requires that candidates are members of the National Trust. Membership will need to be taken up by 31 March 2025 if you wish to go forward to the election.

The Nominations Committee wishes to be fully inclusive and fair to all candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments to submit your application, please let us know.

About the Election and Election Process

This year we are expecting to fill seven election vacancies for a three-year term starting after the AGM in November 2025.

Standing for election involves making an application to our Nominations Committee and having your candidacy published to our members in the autumn in the election material and on our website. In fairness to all candidates, you should not participate in any other methods of publicising your candidature.

A ballot of members is conducted in September/October and the results are usually announced at the AGM.

Please note that the Nominations Committee is required to recommend to members those candidates who they believe are best suited to undertaking the work of the Council. In reaching its recommendation, the Committee will consider how candidates demonstrate the broad range of the qualities and experience we’re looking for and can help the Trust achieve its ambition of being for everyone – you can find out more about these in the candidate information.

Any current members of the Council who are standing for re-election should note that attendance records for meetings will be published.

Please read our Code of Conduct which applies to everyone who volunteers in a non-executive capacity.

How to apply and closing date

If you would like to stand for election, you will need to complete an application which contains the following:

• A candidate information form [JH1] which includes your election statement and answers to two questions posed by the Nominations Committee, as well as a completed declaration and affirmation;
• Supplementary information which you can use to explain anything that you think might be helpful to the Nominations Committee that is not included elsewhere in your application;
• A brief CV (maximum length two sides of A4);

Next Steps

The Nominations Committee will meet in April to review applications and will invite a number of candidates to meet the Committee. You can expect to hear from us about the progress of your application towards the end of April.

The Committee will meet invited candidates on 1, 2 & 8 May 2025. We plan to hold these meetings online and alternative arrangements may be possible if candidates have issues accessing online meetings, you’ll just need to let us know. The Nominations Committee aims to match its recommendations to the number of vacancies which are expected this year.

Please note that valid election statements of all eligible candidates, whether or not they are invited to meet the Committee, will go forward for publication to our members. Anyone wishing to withdraw from the election process will need to notify us by 30 May 2025.

If you are successful in the election, you will be invited to attend an induction day in January 2026 in one of our offices, either Swindon or London.