Museums, galleries and heritage charities have been urged to apply for a programme that aims to boost recruitment of young trustees and diversify their boards.

The Engaging Your First Young Trustees programme is run by the museum education charity Kids in Museums and supported by Arts Council England.

Eight museums are selected each year to develop more inclusive board cultures to support young people into trusteeship.

The programme, which supports two people from each participating charity, encourages museums to test new recruitment processes that will reach young people aged between 18 and 30 who are interested in governance roles. 

The programme also provides bespoke support to participating museums, to help them embed inclusive working practices on their boards. 

Trustees taking part in the programme, which will run from this April to March next year, will receive access to tools to enable them to advocate for young trustees within their organisations.

Online training will be provided to help existing trustees plan the process of bringing young trustees onto their boards.

“This will include running inclusive recruitment and selection processes, having more accessible board meetings, developing support and training for your young trustees,” Kids in Museums said.

Participating museums’ trustees will also receive up to two one-to-one meetings tailored to their organisation’s needs, alongside drop-in networking sessions with other trustees in the programme.

Young trustees will have online training to prepare for the role and how to attend board meetings.

The programme includes an online peer network with other young trustees.

“During the programme you will hear case studies from young trustees, organisations that have successfully recruited young trustees, Kids in Museums staff and external trainers,” Kids in Museums said.

Last year, charities including Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, New Forest Heritage Centre and Wiltshire Museum were selected for the programme.

Rana Rofifah, a newly appointed young trustee at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, said: “I was really interested in the programme with Kids in Museums because they provided support and guidance on how to be a young trustee, how to apply and also how to feel comfortable and make the most of the role.

“I became a young trustee because I was really interested in being part of this decision-making process, learning more about how heritage organisations operate and what trustees can do to help.

“I’ve attended my first couple of board meetings and I have really enjoyed it.”

Alison Bowyer, executive director at Kids in Museums, said: “Boards that include a wide range of people with different skills and experiences tend to be stronger and make better decisions.

“Giving young people a seat at the boardroom table will bring new ideas and alternative viewpoints into decision-making at the highest level in museums. 

“We are already seeing the impact for the museums involved, their young visitors and staff.”

Applications have opened for the 2025/26 cohort and interested charities can apply here.