Join us as a Trustee of Kempton Great Engines Trust

Southwest London

We are seeking a dedicated and inspiring individual to join the Board of Trustees at Kempton Great Engines Trust, the charity responsible for Kempton Steam Museum – home to the world’s largest operational triple-expansion steam engine, which supplied water to much of London until 1980. The Trust oversees the museum’s day-to-day operations and guides its development as a thriving, sustainable visitor attraction.

The museum has recently secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for an audience development and resilience project, Kempton: Clean Water for Life – reaching a wider audience. As we expand our visitor offer and strengthen our educational work, we are looking for a new Trustee with strong local community links to join our Board.

The museum relies heavily on its dedicated volunteers who undertake technical, operational and front of house roles; several of them were involved in the original restoration of the engine and the creation of the museum. Our only paid staff are our bookkeeper and two part-time roles currently funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund: a Curator & Project Manager and a Volunteer Coordinator. Trustees play an active role in managing the charity, particularly fundraising efforts.

Key responsibilities:

We are looking for someone passionate about local heritage and committed to helping the museum flourish. As a Trustee, you will play a key role in shaping our strategic direction, supporting our volunteers, and ensuring the museum’s long-term sustainability.

Your primary focus will be on community engagement — building meaningful relationships with local groups, schools, businesses, councils, and residents. Museum experience is not essential: what matters most is your connection to the local area and your enthusiasm for helping us to broaden our impact.

Responsibilities include:

Championing community engagement across all museum’s activities
Strengthening partnerships with local organisations, schools, and community groups
Supporting outreach initiatives and helping to raise the museum’s local profile
Contributing to Board discussions and strategic planning
Acting as an ambassador for the museum within the community
Upholding good governance and support the museum’s charitable objectives
Engaging with volunteers, fostering their development and recognising their contributions, including ensuring that trustees play an active role in volunteer initiatives

General Trustee responsibilities as advised by the Charity Commission:

Ensuring compliance with charity law and with the requirements of the Charity Commission
Ensuring adherence to the constitution and remaining true to the charity’s purpose and objects.
Complying with relevant legislation and regulation, including the Equality Act, Health & Safety, employment law and data protection.
Acting with integrity and avoiding any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of funds or assets.
Using reasonable care, skill and experience to ensure that the charity is well-run and efficient.

Commitment

Trustees serve three year term and may serve up to three consecutive terms
Board meetings are held every six weeks on a Tuesday evening at the museum in South West London. Trustees may also chair or attend sub-committees and take on specific tasks
Trustees are expected to undertake training and to develop relevant skills and knowledge of museum policies
Trustees are expected to adhere to the Nolan Principles of Public Life

Who we’re looking for

Strong links within the local community (e.g. education, business, voluntary sector, local government, neighbourhood networks)
An interest in heritage, engineering or community culture
Good communication skills and a collaborative approach
Willingness to attend Board meetings and museum events
Commitment to supporting a volunteer-led organisation
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate volunteers and bring people together.
A clear commitment to Trust, its strategic objectives and charitable purpose
The ability to commit the time required for the role.

Application process:

For an informal discussion with a member of the current Board or to arrange a site visit, please contact Valerie Mills, Company Secretary at companysecretary@kemptonsteam.org

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to broadening the diversity of our Board.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet our requirements and why you are interested in joining us as a trustee to Valerie Mills at companysecretary@kemptonsteam.org by 30th June 2026.

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18th & 19th April

Join us as a Trustee of Kempton Great Engines Trust

Southwest London

Key responsibilities:

We are looking for someone passionate about local heritage and committed to helping the museum flourish. As a Trustee, you will play a key role in shaping our strategic direction, supporting our volunteers, and ensuring the museum’s long-term sustainability.

Responsibilities include:

Championing community engagement across all museum’s activities

Strengthening partnerships with local organisations, schools, and community groups

Supporting outreach initiatives and helping to raise the museum’s local profile

Contributing to Board discussions and strategic planning

Acting as an ambassador for the museum within the community

Upholding good governance and support the museum’s charitable objectives

Engaging with volunteers, fostering their development and recognising their contributions, including ensuring that trustees play an active role in volunteer initiatives

General Trustee responsibilities as advised by the Charity Commission:

Ensuring compliance with charity law and with the requirements of the Charity Commission

Ensuring adherence to the constitution and remaining true to the charity’s purpose and objects.

Complying with relevant legislation and regulation, including the Equality Act, Health & Safety, employment law and data protection.

Acting with integrity and avoiding any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of funds or assets.

Using reasonable care, skill and experience to ensure that the charity is well-run and efficient.

Commitment

Trustees serve three year term and may serve up to three consecutive terms

Board meetings are held every six weeks on a Tuesday evening at the museum in South West London. Trustees may also chair or attend sub-committees and take on specific tasks

Trustees are expected to undertake training and to develop relevant skills and knowledge of museum policies

Trustees are expected to adhere to the Nolan Principles of Public Life

Who we’re looking for

Strong links within the local community (e.g. education, business, voluntary sector, local government, neighbourhood networks)

An interest in heritage, engineering or community culture

Good communication skills and a collaborative approach

Willingness to attend Board meetings and museum events

Commitment to supporting a volunteer-led organisation

Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate volunteers and bring people together.

A clear commitment to Trust, its strategic objectives and charitable purpose

The ability to commit the time required for the role.

Application process:

For an informal discussion with a member of the current Board or to arrange a site visit, please contact Valerie Mills, Company Secretary at companysecretary@kemptonsteam.org

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to broadening the diversity of our Board.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet our requirements and why you are interested in joining us as a trustee to Valerie Mills at companysecretary@kemptonsteam.org by 30th June 2026.