From the industrial heartlands and canals of Birmingham and the Black Country, from Victorian town parks to the striking natural landscapes of the Malvern Hills, the region has a vibrant and diverse heritage and we need your help to continue making a real difference by leading the Heritage Lottery Fund’s West Midlands Committee.

Les Sparks, who is standing down after six years as Committee Chair, says: “Working with the HLF is a joy, and the Committee Chair is in a privileged position to engage with people across the organisation from the board members to the regional director and team. It provides a unique opportunity to get to know the heritage of the region, its landscapes, wildlife, museums, historic cities, towns and villages, its communities and, particularly in the case of the West Midlands, its exceptionally rich industrial history.

“In my time as Chair I have made many friends, been to many fascinating places and participated in all sorts of events; my future enjoyment of the region will benefit from all the understanding I have gained and the memories I have collected.”

HLF has a vacancy for a Committee Chair and at least one member to decide on funding for the heritage that is so loved by local people and visitors alike. The successful candidates would join fellow decision makers to help us to open up our heritage for everyone to enjoy. The West Midlands 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 West Midlands’ incredible heritage and are passionate about promoting understanding and enjoyment of what there is to see, experience and learn about,” says Reyahn King, Head of HLF West Midlands. “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 the region has supported a vast array of projects over the past 21 years, investing more than £470million in over 3,500 projects. Recent highlights awarded by the HLF West Midlands committee include providing galleries in Birmingham and Stoke on Trent for the Staffordshire Hoard, engaging the community to protect Herefordshire’s Bromyard Downs, providing public access for the first time to the schoolroom attended by the young William Shakespeare in Stratford and charting the stories of south Birmingham’s multi-cultural communities and the birthplace of Balti in the UK.

Anyone wishing to be considered for the positions should contact Vanessa Harbar, on tel: 0115 934 9054, email: vharbar@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. Application materials are available on our Committee vacancies page.

Notes to editors 

The HLF West Midlands 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.

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. @heritagelottery.