Join The Matthew crew as a volunteer trustee
The Matthew of Bristol Trust is the registered charity that owns and preserves The Matthew of Bristol – a full-size, seaworthy replica of the 15th-century caravel in which explorer John Cabot sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497.
Built in Bristol between 1994 and 1996 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of this historic voyage, the modern Matthew faithfully retraced Cabot’s original 1497 voyage in 1997 and was warmly welcomed to Canada by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Today, The Matthew is a much-loved part of Bristol’s maritime heritage, offering public harbour trips, school visits, private charters, and a platform for education on maritime history, shipbuilding, seamanship and the global significance of early exploration.
THE MATTHEW OF BRISTOL TRUST
The Matthew is run predominantly by volunteers, who are recruited by The Matthew of Bristol Trust – the charity that owns The Matthew.
The Trust is responsible for:
- Preserving and maintaining The Matthew.
- Providing educational and training opportunities for the general public.
- Raising awareness of the local heritage associated with The Matthew.
All money raised through donations and public and private trips is invested directly into the ship’s upkeep and the charity’s educational work. The Trust does not receive any public funding and depends on the support of the ship’s passionate volunteers and supporters to thrive.
In recognition of the Trust’s voluntary work, the charity received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2019, the highest possible honour for volunteer groups in the UK.
WHY BECOME A TRUSTEE?
2027 marks a significant milestone for The Matthew – it’s 30 years since The Matthew set sail for North America, tracing the route of John Cabot’s 1497 voyage of exploration – and the Trust has ambitious plans to strengthen the ship’s impact on heritage, education and community engagement.
Ahead of this milestone, the Trust is looking to recruit two new volunteer Trustees who are passionate about maritime heritage and public education, to contribute to the strategic development of The Matthew. This is a unique opportunity for two talented individuals to be a part of the future of one of Bristol’s most iconic attractions.
The Trust is recruiting for:
- Trustee Fundraiser – a role focused on fundraising and community engagement, helping to raise funds, develop supporter relationships, organise campaigns and events, and identify potential funders.
- Trustee Treasurer – a role that is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s finances, including banking, payments, VAT, budgets, cash flow, annual accounts and financial reporting to the board.
Please note that these positions are unpaid roles but as a Trustee, you’ll gain board-level experience in governance, strategy, decision-making and influencing. In addition, you will:
- Help shape the direction and governance of The Matthew.
- Support long-term planning for preservation, learning and community engagement.
- Build your network.
- Work alongside a committed and passionate board and crew of volunteers, keeping a historic ship alive for future generations.