Membership of the development trust is free and open to anyone with an interest in Seahouses and the work that we do.

Members will be invited to attend our annual general meeting to learn about progress during the year, be eligible to nominate candidates to become trustees, or stand for election as a trustee themselves.

We also encourage members to get involved with our different projects and there are currently Festival, Youth Project and Community Hub groups managing those activities. These groups bring together staff, volunteers and trustees to organise and oversee work.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the development trust either download an application form and return to the address stated or get in touch with the Trust.

As both a charity and a company limited by guarantee, the development trust is managed by a Board of Trustees. To find out what our Trustees do see the GetOnBoard website

An Executive Committee of Trustees makes the substantive policy decisions. Trustees represent the following twelve organisations or interest groups:

	Parish Retailers
	Parish Counci
	Seahouses Fishermen’s Association
	Berwick Borough Council
	Northumberland County Council
	North Sunderland Harbour Commissioners
	Seahouses Sports and Community Centre
	The National Trust
	Trustees of Lord Crewe’s Charity
	Seahouses and District Council of Churches
	Community Council of Northumberland and Parish Tourism Businesses

There are four trustees elected from the membership at the AGM and three co-opted members.

For the 2007-2008 period the board was as follows:

	Chairman	Ian Clayton
	Vice Chairman	Rev. Jane Wood
	Treasurer	Joy King
	North Sunderland & Seahouses Sports & Community Centre	Bob Turner
	Community Action Northumberland	Joan Turnbull
	National Trust	John Walton
	The Trustees of Lord Crewe's Charity	Jon Williams
	North Sunderland Parish Council	Maureen Bramley
	Berwick Borough Council	Cllr. Richard Patterson
	Northumberland County Council	Cllr. Pat Scott
	Elected Member	David Hindmarsh
	Elected Member	Geoff Stewart
	Elected Member	Dr. Beata Kohlbek
	Co-opted Member	Michael Hosken
	Co-opted Member	David Brewis
	Co-opted Member	Judy Thompson
	Company Secretary	Christopher Turner

Members of the development trust can stand for election to the board at the AGM or can be co-opted at any time during the year. There are usually vacancies on the board. We are particularly keen to recruit people with a business or entrepreneurial background or people with professional skills such as from a legal, accounting or managerial profession.

The Charity Commission provides a lot of useful information on becoming a Trustee including a publication The Essential Trustee (PDF).

Another organisation, the governance hub, gives further advice and guidance.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Trust or joining the Board of Trustees please get in touch. Support and encouragement is available and an advice and guidance pack has been prepared for potential new Trustees.