20 Apr 2026

Seeking to appoint new trustees

The McDougall Trust is a small charity whose purpose is to promote electoral democracy. After several years of consolidation and with a growing interest internationally in debates about democratic practices and some threats faced by them, it is at a turning point in its development. Having appointed two excellent new trustees in 2025, it seeks to strengthen its Board further to help steer this process.

McDougall trustees are not remunerated but can reclaim any expenses incurred in the course of carrying out their duties on its behalf.

The deadline for applications is 12noon on Monday 18^th May. Further details and an application form are available from support@mcdougall.org.uk

Appointment of Trustees – Background information

The McDougall Trust is a small charity whose purpose is to promote electoral democracy. After several years of consolidation and with a growing interest internationally in debates about democratic practices and some threats faced by them, it is at a turning point in its development. Having appointed two excellent new trustees in 2025, it seeks to strengthen its Board further to help steer this process.

The Trust was established in 1948 as Arthur McDougall Fund (registered with the Charity Commission as Charity No 212151).  Its present activities are:

• Publishing the quarterly journal Representation: Journal of Representative Democracy.  Representation is published under university-based editors in conjunction with Taylor & Francis, under the Routledge imprint.  It is well-respected in the political, academic, research and journalistic worlds for its coverage of the study of elections and voting systems. Its digital usage now outweighs sales of paper copies and having appointed new lead editors in early 2024 annual subscriptions and downloads are growing. The Trust is seeking ways to broaden its appeal and readership, plus to utilise its profile in exploring new ways to pursue its mission.
• Holding the Lakeman Library for electoral studies. This comprises a large quantity of material relating to electoral reform and voting systems, including the personal papers and correspondence of Enid Lakeman OBE. The valuable archive collection, which includes the early records of the Proportional Representation and Electoral Reform Societies, is now deposited with the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. Alongside this sits a range of digital publications relating to the Single Transferable Vote, published online between 1994 and 2013 as Voting Matters.
• Providing financial support for charitable activities in electoral democracy, by making small research grants, and by supporting prize schemes and conferences. It is in the early stages of exploring how it can expand this during 2026 in collaboration with a suitable partner.
• Hosting occasional research workshops and events on electoral topics.  Presented by distinguished speakers in the field, the workshops are open to the public and attended by academics, representatives of charities and pressure groups, journalists and others.

The Trust seeks to promote debate about and understanding of electoral democracy, and to and contribute to public policy.  It careful to avoid partisan positions and to operate in accordance with the Charity Commission’s guidance on political activity and campaigning by charities.

The Trust’s finances are stable and whilst it employs no staff it benefits from the specialist expertise of a freelance Charity Manager.

The partnership with the University of Warwick offers exciting opportunities for cataloguing and digitisation of the archive and having appointed keen new editors the Trust also sees much potential in Representation.

The outcome of the 2024 UK General Election and subsequent political discourse have raised questions about democratic representation and voting systems, which the trustees are keen to play their part in exploring. This requires a much-needed overhaul of the Trust’s website, and communications in general, for which the options are at an early stage of discussion.

McDougall trustees are not remunerated but can reclaim any expenses incurred in the course of carrying out their duties on its behalf.

McDougall Trust

Role Description – Trustee

Function

v To provide governance to McDougall, represent it as required, and accept legal authority for its activities.

Qualifications/Skills

v Knowledge and skills in one or more areas of Board governance – strategy, policy, finance, programmes, campaigning, and/or communications.

v Demonstrable commitment to championing electoral democracy and raising public awareness of its key themes and issues.

Term

v McDougall’s governing document does not specify terms. The Board is hoping to recruit new trustees able to commit to at least 3 to 5 years in the role.

Requirements

v Commitment to the work and mission of McDougall Trust.

v Attendance at meetings generally every third month, plus annual strategy away day. Trustee meetings are generally held online.

v A time commitment of approximately 6 days per year (includes Board preparation, responding to emails, sub-committee and meeting time).

v Preparation for and participation in the discussions and deliberations of the Board and the work of McDougall Trust.

v To be aware of and abstain (or recuse oneself) from any potential conflict of interest.

v Willingness to keep up-to-date on relevant developments within charity governance and electoral democracy.

 

Main Duties

v Ensure that McDougall complies with its governing document, charity law, the requirements of the Charity Commission and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

v Agree short, medium and long-term goals, objectives and priorities towards achieving the purposes of the Trust.

v Monitor progress against the overarching strategy through a system of regular review.

v Check that all risks identified within the Register are being managed and mitigated in accordance with agreed plans and procedures.

v Promote the organisation within own network and wider community links.

v Provide constructive questioning, criticism, advice and comments.

v Consider and approve annual budget and major changes to activities and services.

v Prepare for and participate in the discussions and deliberations of the Board.

v Foster a positive working relationship with other Board members/staff.

v Be assured that management and trustee succession is properly being planned.

v Adopt the Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts and appoint Independent Examiner annually.