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 ten organisations or interest groups:

	Parish Retailers
	Parish Council
	North Northumberland Tourism Association
	Community Action Northumberland
	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

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

For the 2010-2011 period the board was as follows:

	Chairman	Maureen Bramley
	Vice Chairman	Ian Clayton
	Treasurer	Roger Howell
	Seahouses Sports & Community Centre	Nancy Wardropper
	Community Action Northumberland	Joan Turnbull
	National Trust	John Walton
	The Trustees of Lord Crewe's Charity	Jon Williams
	North Sunderland Parish Council	Maureen Bramley
	Farne Churches Together	Rev. Jane Wood
	Northumberland County Council	Cllr. Pat Scott
	North Sunderland Harbour Comm.	Capt. Philip Brabban
	North Northumberland Tourist Assoc.	Jeff Sutheran
	Elected Member	Kelvin Rushworth

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.