Cathedral Music Trust is recruiting members to its Grants Panel
To further the work of the Trust in supporting cathedral music, we are recruiting new members to our Grants Panel. The Grants Panel works with our Programmes Committee and reports to the Board of Trustees. It is supported by an able and energetic staff team consisting of the Programmes Director, Cathy Dew, and our Programmes Manager, Olivia Sparkhall.
What does the Grants Panel do?
The Grants Panel is responsible for assessing the Trust’s major funding programmes: the Cathedral Music Support Programme (CMSP) and the Church Choir Award (CCA). It recommends awards under these programmes for ratification by the Board. In 2023, £407,500 was disbursed to cathedrals under our main revenue programme and £30,000 to churches under the CCA. It is the Trust’s intention to increase the level of funding under these programmes over time. Demand for funds significantly exceeds the amounts available, however, and this imbalance is expected to continue. Rather than simply distributing grants, the Trust is moving towards a more developmental approach with award recipients. The Grants Panel therefore also has a role in identifying aspects of applications which may need further support or clarification through discussion with the Trust’s programme staff.
About Cathedral Music Trust
Cathedral Music Trust is a national charity which supports the work of musicians who enrich lives through the power of cathedral music. Our objectives are to support excellence, broaden participation and increase the long-term sustainability of the cathedral music sector. We seek innovative and sector-leading ways to support high quality musicianship in cathedrals and churches, through our programmes, training, advocacy and research. A summary of our 5 year strategic plan is available on request.
Person and role specification
We are looking for members of the Grants Panel who:
- will commit to the charity and its strategic objectives;
- have good analytical skills, the ability to listen well and an eye for detail;
- are discreet and can recognise and manage conflicts of interest;
- can commit the time and energy to perform their roles well, acknowledging that the demands on panel members’ time are concentrated during specific periods of the year;
- are confident in using technology and online platforms.
We are particularly interested in hearing from people with experience in one or more of the following areas:
- grant making and grant evaluation;
- music education and music hubs;
- cathedral finance and management;
- cathedral music at practitioner level.
Time commitment
To support a fair and transparent assessment process, panel members use an online platform to assist in ranking applications according to their potential for impact and their alignment with the Trust’s strategic objectives of excellence, participation and sustainability. This exercise takes place annually within a tightly defined window – currently March for the CMSP and May for the CCA. Assessors must be able to commit to one or both of these assessment periods. Assessors are also expected to attend a one-day in-person shortlisting meeting for the CMSP, which is followed by an online meeting to confirm funding awards once discussions have taken place with shortlisted applicants. For the CCA, assessors attend an in-person meeting after the ranking exercise is completed at which award decisions are made.
Panel members are normally appointed for a three year term. Training is provided annually to all members to ensure consistency and accuracy of approach. Panel members are not remunerated, but reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.
How do I apply?
If you are interested in helping us to pursue our mission of transforming lives through cathedral music, then we want to hear from you. We are committed to expanding the diversity of our volunteers, particularly regarding gender, age, disability and ethnicity. If you would like an informal discussion before deciding whether to apply, please contact our Programmes Director Cathy Dew at [email protected].
Applications in the form of a short expression of interest and a CV, together with the names of two referees, should be sent to [email protected] by 5pm on 29 July 2024 (extended deadline). Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in-person or online in July.
