Roald Dahl Museum Trustees

Are you committed to creativity?

Do you care that charities are well-run?

Do you value the power of heritage in the present and future?

If this is you… You could become a trustee at the Roald Dahl Museum (RDM).

Our Board of Trustees govern the Museum charity, thinking strategically and supporting the staff team, to ensure that we consistently serve our charitable purpose, using our resources in the smartest ways. Find out more about the Museum here.

Right now, we are at the start of a 5-year transformation programme to become a sustainable organisation for the long term, delivering even more impact and generating the visitor and voluntary income we need. This means being the best Roald Dahl Museum we can be, and a major capital redevelopment project – ‘Unlocking Stories at the Roald Dahl Museum’ – is at the centre of this period of change and growth. Design work is already underway.

What skills do you need?

To be a trustee at RDM, you need to be thoughtful, constructive, collaborative. You should be willing to learn at the same time as contributing from your own professional knowledge.  You need to have control over your own time: our trustees are volunteers, and this is always respected, but – and especially in this period of change – every trustee needs to be able to play their part.

We are currently looking for people with expertise in Human Resources, and in Fundraising; due to recent trustee retirements, these are the priority skill areas we need on our Board.

What time do you need to give as a trustee?

We estimate it takes about one cumulative working day (circa 7.5 hours) a month to be an effective trustee, averaged across the year (more in months with meetings, less at other times).

A strong Board shares its work around and all current trustees are members of at least one of the four sub-committees: Finance, Governance, Fundraising or Capital Project Committee. We would expect an HR trustee to join the Governance Committee, and a Fundraising trustee to join the Fundraising Committee.

The Staff provide thorough papers before meetings to keep trustees informed. Making the time to read papers and ask questions outside of meetings is all part of making the meeting time work as well as possible. A good trustee has control over their own time to do this.

What do you get from being a trustee?

• Induction training, and a Board ‘buddy’ to understand and fulfil your role.
• Expenses to cover the cost of attending Board events.

Our trustees say what they really appreciate is:

• Lively discussion at Board meetings with smart people who have a shared goal.
• Using their own time to support an organisation and cause they are proud to be part of.

How to apply

If you are interested, please apply using the application form downloadable from this page below, and email to hello@roalddahlmuseum.org. If you have any questions, email, or call 01494 892192 and ask to arrange an informal chat with our Director, Steve Gardam, before you apply.  If you need specific support to make an application, please let us know and we will do what we can to help.

Application timeline

• Application closing date = 12 noon, Monday 3 November 2025
• Interviews at the Museum = Monday 1 December 2025
• Observation of Board meeting for preferred candidates = Board meeting anticipated to be on Thursday 5 February 2026 at the Museum

NB Joining the Board is a mutual decision: we want you to experience a Board meeting and decide if this is the right opportunity for you.We invite the preferred candidates from the interview stage to attend a Board meeting as observers before confirming appointment. This is so the rest of our Board can meet you, and you them, so both sides can make a fully informed final decision. If you become a trustee after observing a meeting, your first full meeting would be later in 2026.