Shape the future of a storied independent foundation as a Trustee for The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust. Support arts, health and heritage across the UK
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust is seeking visionary new Trustees to help shape the future of our long-established independent grant-making foundation. Continuing a legacy that began in 1972, we support charities across the UK that work in the performing arts, creative health and heritage crafts.
As a Trustee, you will influence how charitable funding is deployed to help people and communities facing significant barriers to participation. This is a unique opportunity to apply your professional expertise to meaningful work, safeguarding a respected foundation while ensuring we evolve to meet modern challenges. We are committed to building a diverse Board reflecting a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences to better serve the UK’s vibrant charitable sector.
Who we are
Founded in 1972 by Dame Bridget D’Oyly Carte, the Trust continues a family tradition of supporting the arts and public benefit.
Our heritage is linked to Richard D’Oyly Carte, who shaped Britain’s cultural landscape through the Savoy Theatre, the Savoy Hotel and the partnership with Gilbert and Sullivan. Today, we operate as an independent grant-making charity, awarding millions of pounds to registered charities throughout the United Kingdom.
Our mission focuses on three key pillars
- participation in the performing arts
- creative health interventions that improve wellbeing
- and the protection of heritage crafts and traditional skills
By funding projects that increase access for those least able to engage, we strive to create lasting impact and inspiration, ensuring the UK’s cultural and social fabric remains robust for future generations.
About the role
Trustees share collective responsibility for the Trust’s strategic leadership and stewardship.
Your primary focus will be setting the Charity’s direction and ensuring resources are used effectively to further our charitable purposes. Key responsibilities include:
- Overseeing financial sustainability, risk management, and organisational performance.
- Reviewing the annual budget, report, and audited accounts.
- Ensuring compliance with charity law and the Trust’s governing document.
- Bringing independent judgment and professional expertise to Board discussions.
- Acting as an ambassador for the Charity.
This role offers the chance to engage with innovative organisations and influence the strategic delivery of our new three-year plan.
You will work alongside a committed Board and an outsourced management team to ensure the Trust remains responsive to changing societal needs while upholding our core values.
Who we are looking for
We welcome applications from accomplished individuals currently engaged in senior leadership or executive roles who bring contemporary sector networks and a commitment to charitable impact. While previous trustee experience is welcomed, it is not essential; we seek candidates comfortable contributing strategically at the Board level.
We are particularly interested in candidates with senior-level experience in the following areas:
- Sector Expertise
Performing arts, creative health/therapeutic expertise, heritage crafts or community-based service delivery
- Professional Expertise
Digital transformation/AI, strategy and organisational development, education (all levels) or financial governance and investment oversight.
The ideal candidate possesses sound judgment, the confidence to provide constructive challenge, and the ability to interpret complex financial reporting and investment performance.
You should have a collaborative approach and an understanding of the challenges facing the UK charitable funding environment. We are dedicated to building a diverse Board that reflects a range of backgrounds, ages, and perspectives, and we particularly welcome individuals currently underrepresented on charity boards.
Time commitment
Time commitment: approximately 10 days per year.
This includes:
- Three Board meetings annually (usually held in London, with hybrid options available).
- Preparation time for meetings and review of papers.
- Occasional committee meetings, working groups, or Trust events and site visits
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
David Hingley | david@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07534 244249
Ella Garfinkel | ella@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07432 859534
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1112457).
Welcome from the Chair
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Trustee of The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust. We are seeking new Trustees to help shape the future of a long-established independent grant-making foundation.
It is a privilege to lead a charity with such an illustrious history and the ability to effect change for so many. As we mark 60 years since the first arts white paper, it is worth reflecting on the vital role culture plays- creating jobs and showcasing the best of British to the world. The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust remains steadfast in its focus to help those least able to gain access to performing arts, wellbeing, and the living environment.
The Charity supports charitable organisations working within performing arts, creative health, heritage crafts and skills, with a particular focus on improving opportunities for people and communities facing barriers to participation and opportunity.
As a Trustee, you will contribute to the strategic direction and stewardship of the Charity, helping to ensure that its resources are used effectively to achieve lasting charitable impact. Working alongside fellow Trustees and the Charity’s outsourced management team, you will bring your experience, insight and judgement to support good decision-making and strong governance.
This is an opportunity to influence how charitable funding is deployed, engage with innovative organisations across the UK, and contribute to the future development of a respected grant-making trust with a broad and lasting charitable impact.
We are conscious of the rising demand for support amidst geopolitical risks, market volatility, and the cost-of-living crisis. These challenges lead to an acute awareness of the fragility of our planet and its people, making our mission more critical than ever. As we deliver our new strategy from 2026, we are focusing on maximising impact through a strong preference for supporting smaller organisations.
New articles and board succession plans have been implemented to ensure fresh skills and diverse experiences are encompassed within our leadership to reflect modern societal challenges. We are looking for individuals who share our dedication to making every pound go further. If you are a senior leader who wants to help us navigate this new chapter and safeguard our mission for years to come, we look forward to hearing from you.
Andrew Bowring Wimble
Chair
About The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust is an endowed grant-making charity where public benefit is at the heart of every activity.
Our grant-making is largely reactive, supporting requests for specific needs, and measured against the goals of the individual charities we support. We aim to create impact by supporting work that enhances people’s life chances, wellbeing, and living environment.
Our current funding priorities focus on:
- The Arts: Increasing participation for those with the least access, emphasising choirs and singing to build community, and engaging young people on the fringes of society through music and drama.
- Creative Health: Funding non-clinical interventions, such as art and music therapy, to aid recovery from illness and improve mental wellbeing.
- Heritage Crafts: Protecting rare craft skills and linking traditional skills to training and employment.
Beyond our standard grants, we support centres of excellence and bursaries for exceptionally talented students. We also maintain a unique relationship with the School of Medical Education at King’s College London through the D’Oyly Carte Academic Appointment, stimulating research in medicine and the arts.
Our operations are robust, supported by a professional grants administration team and an Investment Committee that monitors our diversified portfolio – currently valued at approximately £67 million.
As we transition to our new 2026 strategy, we are focusing more sharply on smaller organisations, ensuring our resources deliver inspiration and enrichment where they are needed most.
Read our annual report here
Accessibility information
The Trust and Peridot Partners are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. We have made modifications to accommodate diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities:
- Step-free access to the building and all key meeting rooms
- Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
David Hingley | david@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07534 244249
Ella Garfinkel | ella@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07432 859534
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Recruitment Pack.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally a maximum of 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust — Trustees” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
David Hingley | david@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07534 244249
Ella Garfinkel | ella@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07432 859534
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: Friday 9th October
Candidates informed of outcome: Thursday 15th October
Interviews (in person): Thursday 22nd October
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Learn more about why we collect this data here.
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