From mystical Stonehenge, Exeter’s award-winning Royal Albert Memorial Museum and the historic Bristol docks, to Victorian town parks and the strikingly varied natural landscapes of the Scilly Isles, Dartmoor and the Somerset Levels, the region has a vibrant and diverse heritage and we need your help to continue making a real difference by joining or even leading the Heritage Lottery Fund’s South West Committee.

Simon Timms, chair of the South West Committee for the past six years, says: "What a privilege it has been to be a member of HLF’s South West committee! I never imagined just how rich and wide-ranging the associated experiences would be, nor how much would be learnt along the way. But most rewarding of all have been the great numbers of excited, enthusiastic and committed people of all ages, backgrounds, nationalities and circumstances I have met.

"At times it has been humbling to witness just how an involvement with aspects of their heritage can enrich, and in some cases transform, people’s lives.”

HLF has a vacancy for a Chair and at least one Committee member to decide on funding for the heritage that is so loved by local people and visitors alike. The successful candidate would join fellow decision makers to help us to open up our heritage for everyone to enjoy. The South West has a vibrant heritage – from its museums, collections, parks and landscapes, to cultural histories and community memories – and HLF supports projects of every kind.

The Committee is made up of leading figures, some of whom have professional expertise in heritage, others come from the community or voluntary sector, or have experience in economic regeneration, tourism, education or commerce.

“We are looking for people who appreciate the South West’s incredible heritage and are passionate about promoting understanding and enjoyment of what there is to see, experience and learn about,” says Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West. “Chairs and Committee members are the local people deciding where to invest money raised by National Lottery players. They also play an important role as advocates for heritage in their local area.”

HLF funding in South West has supported a vast array of projects over the past 21 years, investing over £600million in more than 3,800 projects. Recent highlights awarded by the South West committee include protecting Taunton’s natural heritage in support of the Somerset Wildlife Trust, helping Salisbury Cathedral to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, restoring historic buildings in the heart of Tavistock and providing a visitor centre at Dorset’s Hengistbury Head.

Anyone wishing to be considered for the positions should contact: Nerys Watts, on tel: 01392 223 950, email NerysW@hlf.org.uk.

Please email decisionmakers@hlf.org.uk if you have a query and would like to speak to someone about the recruitment process.

Notes to editors

The South West committee is one of 12 across the UK. Each one meets four times a year. Chairs and members are normally appointed for three years in the first instance with the potential for a second term. The Committee is responsible for investing National Lottery Players’ money in projects ranging from £100,000 to £2million. They are assisted by the region’s staff of professional officers whose role it is to provide detailed or specialist advice, upon which the committee bases its decisions.

To hear committee members talk about their role visit the Board and committee recruitment page. Application materials are available on our Committee vacancies page.

Thanks to National Lottery players, HLF invests money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. Join us on Twitter: @heritagelottery.