Accreditation Mentor Needed: Hinckley and District Museum, Leicestershire, Accredited

Hinckley and District Museum is a small independent local museum which is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and a registered charity, managed and staffed entirely by volunteers. The museum is housed in a row of thatched timber-framed cottages dating from the late 17th century, open from April to October each year. Collections and displays include the principle industries of the town and wider district (hosiery and knitwear, boot and shoe), and locally found artefacts from Roman activity in the area. Many of the displays are changed each season to reflect important local anniversaries and to encourage visitors to return. Occasional temporary displays are also mounted in the Atkins Gallery (housed in the Atkins Building on the opposite side of the road to the museum). Children’s event days on historical themes in the summer school holidays and at half term are staged.
You can find out more about the museum on their website: https://www.hinckleydistrictmuseum.org
The museum is seeking an Accreditation Mentor to support the museum to maintain the Accreditation Standard, with a focus on recruitment and retention of Trustees and Succession Planning. Experience on audience engagement and business planning would be beneficial. The museum is open to a mentor who can provide hybrid support, with one annual visit in person then ad hoc support via the phone and email.

Next steps:
If you are interested or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact:
Name: Phillip Lindley
Role: Trustee, Secretary and Hon. Curator
Email address: phillip@hinckleydistrictmuseum.org.uk

About Accreditation Mentors
An Accreditation Mentor is a professional adviser who supports a museum in developing its Accreditation application and subsequent Accreditation returns. Accreditation Mentors play a vital role in supporting and helping to develop museums by providing access to professional advice. For some people the mentor role forms part of their job description while for others it is a purely voluntary role.
More information on mentoring can be found here https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries/uk-museum-accreditation-scheme/accreditation-guidance-library/accreditation-mentor-handbook-2025
If you are interested in becoming an Accreditation Mentor please contact accreditation@mdmidlands.org.uk, to discuss mentoring, the registration process, and what support is available. MDM provide a programme of complementary Accreditation Mentor support, such as networking opportunities, for mentors in the region.
If you are a museum seeking a mentor, guidance on working with an Accreditation Mentor can be found here https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries/uk-museum-accreditation-scheme/accreditation-guidance-library/working-your-accreditation-mentor-guide-museums