National Trust
About us
Our founders – Octavia Hill, Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley – believed that nature, beauty and history were for everyone. Together, they set up the National Trust to look after the UK’s coastline, historic sites and green spaces.
With over 5.38 million members, 9,500 staff and thousands of volunteers, the National Trust is now the biggest conservation charity in Europe, caring for more than 250,000 hectares of farmland, 890 miles of coastline and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves, for everyone, for ever.
How we are organised
We aim to manage the Trust efficiently and transparently, making it clear who is accountable for what.
Our professional staff run the properties and the wider organisation. Our governance volunteers serve on a range of groups that support our staff and the Trust’s activities.
Of these groups the starting point is the Board of Trustees, which agrees plans and holds the staff to account for meeting their responsibilities. The Council appoints the Board, monitors and supports their work, and debates wider issues of policy.
Our constitution
The National Trust was first incorporated in 1894 as an Association Not For Profit under the Companies Acts 1862-1890.
Our governance arrangements are underpinned by Acts of Parliament. The first National Trust Act was passed by Parliament in 1907. Several Acts have since been introduced to update and, where necessary, revise our constitution. This ensures the National Trust continues to be well governed and remains true to its cause.
The Charities (National Trust) Order 2005 describes our current governance arrangements and is the starting point for the arrangements in the Governance handbook.
Contact
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
