volunteer trustee positions available
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.
ABOUT THE MATTHEW OF BRISTOL TRUST
The Matthew of Bristol Trust is a not-for-profit charity (No. 1139058) dedicated to:
preserving and maintaining the replica Matthew as a historic vessel,
providing educational and training opportunities for people of all ages,
advancing knowledge of local and national history tied to The Matthew, John Cabot’s voyage, and seafaring skills.
All funds raised through donations and income from public and private trips are invested directly in the ship’s upkeep and educational work; the Trust does not receive public funding and depends on passionate volunteers and supporters to thrive.
In recognition of its voluntary work, the Trust received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour for volunteer groups in the UK.
WHY BECOME A TRUSTEE?
2027 marks a significant milestone – it’s 30 years since The Matthew set sail for North America, tracing the route of John Cabot’s 1497 voyage of exploration – and we’re planning ambitious projects to strengthen our impact on heritage, education and community engagement. We are therefore seeking new Trustees who can contribute to the strategic development of the charity and who share our passion for maritime heritage and public education.
We are currently looking for individuals with expertise and qualifications in the fields of Fundraising and Accountancy to join our team.
As a Trustee, you will:
help shape the Trust’s direction and governance,
support long-term planning for preservation, learning and community engagement,
work with a committed board and crew of volunteers, keeping a historic ship alive for future generations.
Trustee roles are voluntary; there are no paid employees of the Trust, and we could not operate without the enthusiastic and continuing support of all our Trust members.
GET INVOLVED!
If you would like to contribute your skills and enthusiasm to help write the next chapter of The Matthew’s story, we’d love to hear from you!
Please email your letter of interest and CV to The Matthew office at: info@matthew.co.uk
You’ll be helping to keep alive ‘the ship that put North America on the map’.