The deadline for applications to become a Trustee of the Portico Library has now passed. To hear about other opportunities to get involved with the Library’s activities, please click here.

In January 2022, we invited applications for new Trustee vacancies from those who wish to help lead our exciting plans for the future of the Library and raise our profile as a welcoming cultural institution in the centre of Greater Manchester.

We are currently processing all applications that were received before the deadline of Tuesday 15th February 2022.

Our History

The Portico Library was established by 400 founding subscribers in 1806, during Manchester’s emergence as ‘the first modern city’. Early readers and associates included world-famous authors, future Prime Ministers, leading scientists and educators. Built with wealth derived from the Industrial Revolution, British empire-building, and colonial expansion, the Library amassed a collection that reflects the innovations, but also the exclusions and inequities of its time.

The Library’s early members—all men until 1870—included people of diverse political positions and denominations, from Radical and Liberal abolitionists and anti-poverty campaigners to Conservative factory owners and merchants. Several wrote influential books, such as our first Secretary Peter Mark Roget, author of the first English thesaurus, and John Dalton, the founder of atomic theory. Celebrated Manchester author Elizabeth Gaskell used the Library’s collection while her husband William acted as its longest-serving Chair.

Today

The Portico Library became a registered charity in 2017 and now plays a central role in Manchester’s cultural life and literary heritage. Working with our region’s diverse communities, we explore and confront the city’s complex histories through eclectic and imaginative events, exhibitions, and learning programmes. The prestigious Portico Prize promotes Northern writing and publishing, while the Portico Sadie Massey Awards nurture literacy and learning among young people. Judges and winners have included Gary Younge, Melanie Sykes, Benjamin Myers, Anthony Burgess, and Val McDermid.

The Portico continues to support its thriving and growing membership and welcomes the public and researchers for free, six days a week.

Our future

With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and others, the Portico Library has begun an ambitious development process to open up and share its extraordinary heritage and collection with as many of the city’s residents and visitors as possible.

We hope to reunite all floors of our original Grade II* Listed Building, creating a revitalised, fully accessible venue for literature, learning, and history in the heart of the city.

The role and responsibilities of a Trustee of the Portico Library   

·       Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Portico Library

·       Ensure that financial and other resources are well-managed and used effectively

·       To give guidance to the Librarian and staff, and support their ongoing training and development

·       Ensure that the Library meets its legal obligations and maintains appropriate policies and procedures

·       Use their skills, knowledge, experience and contacts to support the development of the organisation and raise the profile of the Library and its activities

·       Commit appropriate time to the role, attending Board meetings, and contributing to the work of the Board’s various sub-committees and working groups

·       Support the organisation by attending Library events

Priorities for recruitment of additional trustees

The Library has new vacancies as a result of a decision to increase the number of Trustees in order to attract a wider range of skills and backgrounds, to support our development plans and to create a more representative Board that reflects our city and our commitment to equity and diversity.

Skills and experience

Current Trustees have a range of skills and experiences relating to libraries and literature and in other areas including education, finance, law, business and management. In 2020, in support of our development plans, we commissioned a skills audit of our Trustees that identified a number of areas the Library wished to strengthen, including:

·       Property management

·       Commercial income generation

·       Audience development

·       Youth, diversity and community engagement

·       Access and inclusion

·       Lived experience of under-representation in arts & heritage

·       Financial investment

·       Business management

·       PR and marketing

·       Library practice and collection care

·       Digital and social media management

·       Customer service

·       Governance

We therefore particularly encourage applications from people with these skills and expertise, but other skills are also welcome.

Equity and Diversity

The Trustees are engaged in a detailed review of the operation of the Library to ensure that we live up to our commitment to equity and diversity. A major outcome of this review has been the approval of a new Equal Opportunities Policy and new procedures in respect of recruitment of Trustees, staff, and volunteers.

The Library is committed to promoting equal opportunities and inclusivity, and to ensuring the Board is representative of the people of Greater Manchester.  We therefore particularly encourage applications from people of colour, disabled people and women and non-binary people as these groups are under-represented in our current governance.

For role holders who are disabled, every effort will be made to supply all necessary equipment and support to allow them to carry out the duties of the role. The Library is currently located on the first floor of its original 215-year-old Listed Building and is accessed via 32 steps, or via a stair lift. We are working hard to make the Library fully accessible, including installing lifts and step-free bathrooms, as soon as possible. For more information on access and accessibility, see www.theportico.org.uk/visit-access or email librarian@theportio.org.uk.

Qualities

As well as the Seven Principles for Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles)—selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership—we expect our Trustees to embody the following qualities:

·       Relevant knowledge, networks and experiences

·       Generosity with their skills and support

·       Commitment to their own development

·       Willingness to learn about charity governance

·       Passion about the mission

·       Ability to challenge with good intent

·       Ability to listen, openness to challenge and ability to change their minds

Benefits

As well as the vital contribution Trustees give to the Portico Library, it is hoped that Trustees’ involvement will bring them some benefits in return. Examples of potential benefits are as follows:

·       sharing in a collective and individual sense of accomplishment and pride, and receiving credit for your role as part of a unique library, helping to steer our vision of restoring the full building and ensuring its future and importance for the city’s wider community

·       the ability to influence the future direction, priorities and values of the Library

·       the opportunity to build relationships and networks with other Trustees and with the Library’s partners in other arts and heritage organisations in Manchester and beyond

·       development opportunity for mid-career professionals who may want to add something new to their CVs and to gain experience in a related field

·       the chance to support and guide the Library’s inspiring and dedicated staff

Further information

Board meetings

Board meetings are held every two months, typically starting at 5.30pm and normally at the Library in the centre of Manchester (though currently held digitally due to Covid19). We expect Trustees to thoroughly prepare for meetings including by reading written reports in advance.

Expenses

Trustees are volunteers and are not financially remunerated, though reasonable expenses to enable attendance at meetings may be claimed back from The Library. These include travel, accommodation, postage, phone calls, childcare or care of dependents while attending meetings.

Length of service

Trustees are elected to serve an initial three-year term and then are eligible for re-election for a further two terms: nine consecutive years in total.

Eligibility

Candidates must be at least 16 years of age and be legally eligible to become a Board Member, Chair, or Trustee of a charity. You must not:

·       Have an unspent conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception such as fraud or be declared bankrupt or be subjected to bankruptcy restrictions

·       Have an individual Voluntary Arrangement (VA) with a creditor

·       Been removed or disqualified as a company Director or charity Trustee because of wrongdoing

·       Be disqualified or barred from acting as a Trustee under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Please see further information here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved#before-you-start---make-sure-you-are-eligible

Applicants may be required to undergo a DBS check

How to apply

To apply to become a Trustee of the Portico Library please send:

·       A letter setting out your relevant experience and interest in the role of a Portico Library Trustee

·       Your CV

·       A completed Equality and Diversity monitoring form (download here)

Please make sure your letter and CV together are no more than four pages in length.

Applications should be sent to admin.assistant@theportico.org.uk by 11:59pm on Tuesday 15th February 2022.

If you would like an informal discussion before applying, please send your request to Lynne Allan, Chair of the Portico Library at the email address above. Once applications have been assessed, we will invite suitable candidates to an interview (in person or, if not feasible, by video conference) and arrange an informal opportunity for them to meet other Trustees and core staff.

Further reading

·       The role of Board Members and Trustees - The Charity Commission: www.gov.uk/topic/running-charity/trustee-role-board

·       The Essential Trustee - The Charity Commission: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3

·       Nolan Principles – The Seven Principles of Public Life: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life

·       The Portico Library Committees: www.theportico.org.uk/committees

Thank you for your interest in the Portico Library

 Click here to download this page as a PDF