By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-02-01 06:16:22 | Updated at 2025-02-01 09:00:40
3 hours ago
The National Trust has been slammed for hiring a ‘Head of Inclusion and Belonging’ on a hefty £40,000pa salary for just three days work a week, two of which can be worked from home.
The new head, who will focus on ‘embedding an inclusive culture across the Trust with a specific focus on race awareness and equity’, will also receive a ‘substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary’, ‘flexible working whenever possible’ and ‘up to 32 days off a year.’
The salary, which will be funded from people’s NT membership fees, is the equivalent to £67,236pa, sparking concerns the Trust is blowing hardworking Brits’ cash on woke initiatives.
Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, an academic and campaigner, said: “While many of us are tightening our belts, the NT are looking to pay someone £40,000 to promote the politics of DEI. It beggars' belief.
“It is more than a waste of money. It should be spent on fulfilling the NT's core job of maintaining/preserving our historical and cultural legacies for present and future generations.”
Fancy becoming the National Trust's next head of Inclusivity? Hears what you'll be spending 22 hours a week (15 at home) doing
Fancy becoming the National Trust's next head of Inclusivity? Hears what you'll be spending 22 hours a week (15 at home) doing
NT
Monmouthshire resident Helen Fawcett said: “Money for old rope comes to mind.
“This job is supposed to be about boosting inclusivity. The best way to be more inclusive is to charge less for membership.
“It might allow less well-off people to enjoy our national heritage.”
It comes just after the National Trust launched its 2025-2035 strategy under the motto ‘everyone welcome’.
The strategy includes the Trust’s aims to remove ‘emotional barriers’ preventing certain groups of people from accessing the countryside and historical buildings.
Part of this is the Trust’s ‘funding of walk leader training for people from minority ethnic communities to help tackle inequality in access to the outdoors.’
It will be the job of the ‘Head of Inclusivity and Wellbeing’ to help implement policies like these.
But not everyone agrees with the Trust’s focus. Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert said: “As for a sense of belonging among ethnic minorities - why are the National Trust assuming many of us do not already feel we belong?
“In adopting the tenets of an elite project of 'Inclusion & Diversity' the NT may well end up making many of its own members feel that they no longer belong.
“Knowingly or not, they also normalise a new division among those who think there is something inherently repelling about Britain's historical/cultural legacies that requires explicit or implicit apology, and those who accept both the good and bad of their country's past.”
The National Trust, who have been criticised for various woke initiatives such as making all of their cafes serve 50 per cent vegan food, saw memberships fall by 89,000 to 2.62 million in 2023-24.
Last year it voted to make half of all produce at its 300 cafes and food outlets plant-based to help achieve net zero, despite facing backlash from some members.
Visits to National Trust sites increased by five per cent to 25.3 million across its sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the same year, however.
Members have also expressed disappointment that a charity calendar from the NT excluded Christmas and Easter while including festivals from other religions such as Hinduism's Diwali and Islam's Eid and Ramadan.
Other perks of the 'Inclusivity' gig include a free NT season ticket, free parking at most NT car parks, an electric vehicle lease scheme, the ability to buy more holidayand discounts on things like gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts.
A National Trust spokesperson said: “We want everyone who visits, volunteers or works with us to have an equally positive experience. This role helps us work towards that."
