National Trust to hire climate change lobbyist after cutting number of curators

The move risks infuriating its membership after a number of experts lost their jobs last year to save money says Chris Hope in the Telegraph.

The National Trust has risked infuriating its membership by looking to hire a climate change lobbyist just months after it slashed the numbers of its full time curators.

A job advertisement posted online says the 126-year-old charity is ‘seeking a campaigning specialist, adept at targeted political engagement and running dedicated communications and marketing campaigns.’

The decision comes after the number of curators at the Trust was cut from 111 to 80 last year to save money, reportedly including national specialists in furniture, textiles, and libraries.

The job advert for the ‘Climate Advocacy & Public Engagement Manager’ on the LinkedIn website says the successful candidate - offered £40,000 for a fixed one-year contract - will ‘ensure the National Trust plays a leading role as a voice in public debates on climate change.’

The Trust says: ‘You'll be responsible for delivering political engagement to make climate issues tangible in a UK context, public engagement to mobilise our supporters and the public to act, and ensuring active participation in coalitions to strengthen the sector's campaign voice.’

The job advertisement was posted as it emerged that the Trust's 5.5 million members are set to be given a vote on a series of critical motions at this October's annual general meeting.

Motions which are set to be submitted by a June 1 deadline from rebel group Restore Trust include one condemning a clear out of permanent curators last year, making clear that the ‘membership deplores the redundancy of many expert curatorial staff, and the undermining of authority of those that remain.’

It adds: ‘A lack of reliance on their expertise has brought about a radical change of direction in the Trust’s work, and a diversion into political and social campaigning. This amounts to a betrayal of the Trust’s primary mission.’

Other motions - seen by The Sunday Telegraph - call for the Trust to sack Tim Parker, the Trust’s chairman, and ‘disclose in full the remuneration of its senior staff.’

A further motion demands a ban on volunteers having to ‘wear badges, symbols or other items that reflect a political or social viewpoint.’

A final motion says that ‘the National Trust should approach its research activities in a professional and scholarly manner’ in reference to a controversial report linking Trust properties with the UK's historical links to slavery and colonialism.

Jack Hayward, a spokesman for Restore Trust, told The Sunday Telegraph: ‘There have been many periods of disenchantment with the National Trust over the years but never has there been such a comprehensive sense of disenchantment and disillusionment across all the NT's operations from members across the entire spectrum of activities.

‘This has to change and this change must come from the top and the replacement of the management with individuals who care about the heritage of the Nation and the National Trust and its staff and volunteers.’

He added: ‘There are numerous stories of poor morale, bad management and constant attempts to make volunteers promote quasi political campaigns. Volunteers are feeling undervalued and many have left or are considering leaving.’

On the climate change lobbyist, a National Trust spokesman said: ‘We remain deeply committed to our core conservation work and the joy it gives people every day, and we very deliberately limited cuts to staff in houses and collections, gardens and countryside as a result of the pandemic.’

On the AGM motions, the Trust spokesman added: ‘The AGM is an important opportunity for members to vote and discuss issues around key decisions of the charity.

‘We welcome views about our origination from all members and look forward to discussing the resolutions that are put forward at this year’s meeting, as it opens honest debate and helps the National Trust make informed decisions.’

Read the article on the Telegraph website here.