Governance

Responsibility and decision making 

It's important to know who is responsible for your local collection and who makes key decisions, such as the disposal of material, expenditure, or approval for funding applications. 

While the Board of Trustees has overall responsibility, they may delegate certain tasks to a dedicated group. If they do, clearly record what is delegated and to whom. All decisions should be transparent and not made in isolation. 

Commitment to the collection

There are several reasons you may want your governing body to pass resolutions stating their commitment to maintaining a heritage collection and supporting the work carried out by volunteers. 

This can: 

• Provide long-term protection of the collection 
• Provide reassurance for funders and donors 
• Encourage volunteers to support 

A statement of commitment could include: 

• Provision of storage space 
• Provision of display space 
• IT equipment 
• Budget to improve the care and management of the collection 
• Support and management of a heritage volunteer team 
• Protect the collection from disposal 

Your governing body should also be aware of the risks associated with your collection. By highlighting these risks, it’s easier to make the case for support and change.  

These risks could include: 

• Limited or no understanding of collection content or value 
• Lack of appropriate insurance 
• Poor storage conditions 
• Collections being kept at private residences 
• Little or no provenance records for collections