Chair of Trustees Role at Thame Museum Trust
Introduction
Thame Museum is seeking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees. The Museum experienced a successful 2025, marked by a significant increase in visitor numbers as a result of several outstanding and well-attended exhibitions. The incoming Chair will collaborate closely with the Trustees and play a pivotal role in motivating the volunteer workforce, thereby enhancing the Museum’s value as a local resource.
About Thame Museum Trust
Thame Museum Trust operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered under charity number 1174795. Its principal objective is to advance education through the establishment and maintenance of a museum focused on local history, particularly relating to Thame and the surrounding area. The Museum is accredited and registered with the Arts Council, and it occupies a building owned by Thame Town Council at a nominal rent.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Chair of Trustees
The Chair of Trustees is responsible for providing leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring the delivery of the Trust’s aims and obligations. This includes fostering unity of purpose among Trustees and making effective use of the volunteer workforce.
Trustees’ Obligations
- Adhering to the requirements of Museum Accreditation, with guidance from the Trust’s Accreditation Mentor.
- Maintaining a comprehensive set of current policies, plans, and programmes.
- Overseeing the implementation of the Trust’s Forward Plan.
- Ensuring an appropriate workforce structure aligned with the charity’s objectives.
- Regularly reviewing organisational risks and opportunities.
- Securing continuity of tenure for the museum building through positive relations with Thame Town Council.
Honorary Role
The Chair of Trustees is elected annually from among the Trustees, as stipulated by the charity’s constitution. This is an honorary position and does not carry remuneration. Alongside the Chair, the Trust has two additional Honorary Officers: The Secretary and the Treasurer, who may be appointed from outside the Trustee body. Together, the Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer are responsible for administering Trustee meetings, while ensuring that decisions are made collectively by the Trustees.
Time Commitments
The role involves attending four scheduled Trustee meetings each year, with additional ad-hoc meetings as required. Meetings are typically held in the early evening or at a mutually convenient time for the Trustees.
The Volunteer Workforce
Day-to-day operations of the Museum are delegated to a dedicated volunteer workforce. An Operations Group,comprised of volunteers, oversees and coordinates various roles within this workforce. The Trust maintains a degree of separation between Trustees and the Operations Group, adopting a light-touch approach to management while retaining oversight. The Chair’s role with respect to volunteers is to inform, motivate, and listen to their needs and perspectives.
Trustees in Operational Roles
In order to maximise resources, Trustees, including the Chair, may take on operational roles within the volunteer workforce. In these instances, they act as volunteers and may offer advice—such as clarifying policies—but do not exercise executive authority by virtue of their Trustee status.
Emergency Decisions
Occasionally, the Chair may be required to make urgent or emergency decisions. Such instances should be infrequent, and the Chair is expected to promptly inform the Trustees of the nature of any such decisions to ensure transparency.
External Representation
The Chair of Trustees may represent the Trust at external events or delegate this responsibility to a deputy. In these situations, the Chair assumes an ambassadorial role on behalf of the organisation.
