Highlights

Catherine spent a week in the United States with INTO members and partners Alex addressed the INTO session at the Denver Past Forward conference
Catherine attended the Europa Nostra Heritage Summit in ParisAlex represented INTO at the Climate Heritage Network launch (INTO reps from Ireland, Scotland and EWNI pictured)The ICNT featured in the National Trust (EWNI)’s latest magazine Alex represented INTO on the Innocastle study visit in Spain in NovemberINTO Trustees shared updates from their Trusts, including news of the NTHP’s work to save Nina Simone’s house (Catherine also blogged about INTO Members’  involvement in Open Days)Alex spoke to Justin Scully at Fountains Abbey about CCFU’s forthcoming TAP-INTO project and plans to establish a Ugandan NTWe organised a number of meetings for Charles Alluto of the National Trust for Jersey

Family

ICNT news: The Secretariat has hosted two meetings of the International Steering Committee for the Antwerp Conference.  The main priorities now are finalising the theme, finding sponsorship and inviting keynote speakers.  It will take place from 19-23 April 2021 – put it in your diaries now!

Catherine has also met with representatives of the Flemish government and Visit Flanders. More information on the conference in Catherine’s blog.

Reciprocal visiting: We are really excited that the INTO global heritage pass is becoming a reality!  The MOU has been drafted and a number of conversations held with INTO members.  Catherine has spoken to UK lawyers and will be meeting the NTEWNI’s Membership Director next week to finalise arrangements from their side.

TAP-INTO: The first TAP-INTO projects have now taken place! Kara Roopsingh of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago travelled to Denver to participate in Past Forward.  This is the premier educational and networking event hosted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Besides Kara, INTO was also represented by Alex alongside Trustees Justin Albert and Katherine Malone-France.  They all participated in a session showcasing INTO’s work.

The Secretariat are also very excited about some TAP-INTO exchanges that are coming up. These will include a new commercial plan for National Trusts in Australia and the launch of the National Trust of Uganda.

Growth

Membership growth: Our main focus on membership growth now is next year’s Incubator Programme.  There is more information available here.

We’re currently fundraising for the National Trust for Haiti, one of our newest members.

We are also supporting the National Trust of Sri Lanka and the National Trust for Scotland with a possible joint exhibition.

Moreover, Catherine had a recent meeting with the High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda about the possible establishment of a National Trust there.

Regional Groups: In 2020, INTO is planning to deliver four regional meetings in partnership with exciting organisations globally. Advanced discussions have taken place for events in the first half of the year in Africa (Kenya, partnership with British Council) and Asia (Singapore, partnership with V&A Museum) The latter half will include the European and American partners.

Voice

Communications: Later in November, a new Communications Assistant will start working at the INTO Secretariat.  Emma Taylor’s initial focus will be on updating the website (new site due in 2020). The role is managed by the Deputy-Secretary General. Funding has been allocated from the EU Innocastle grant.

Alex continues to produce our monthly newsletter, which has been well-received by members.

‘Arms Wide Open’: This report brings together the case studies that were discussed at the Bermuda ICNT, collecting examples of how National Trusts are responding to the theme of diversity. It contains exciting links to members’ work and was written by the Deputy Secretary-General.

Catherine launched the report at The Heritage Alliance’s International Day.  You can read more about the event here.  And Alex launched it internationally in Denver.  He also prepared some online resources for INTO members to use to help get the word out.

Ambassadors: We are delighted and very grateful that our INTO Ambassador Hashim Djojohadikusumo will host a small dinner in December in honour of INTO.  Our other Ambassador, His Highness, Gaj Singh the Maharajah of Jodhpur, has kindly offered to host our 2020 Board Meeting, with the help of our friends at the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development.  You can read more in Catherine’s blog.

Speaking opportunities: Catherine addressed The Heritage Alliance’s International Day in September.  Irena Edwards of the Czech National Trust also attended.  Alex has attended and spoken at events in Denver and Edinburgh, speaking to the American National Trust sector and the Climate Heritage Network respectively.

Climate Change: Catherine attended The Heritage Alliance’s Debate on reaching net zero, which she blogged about here.   Keith Jones of the National Trust for England, Wales and Northern Ireland was one of the invited speakers.

Moreover, Catherine recorded an interview with Julie’s Bicycle on climate change, which she writes about here.   Climate change was also a theme of the Europa Nostra Policy Debate in Paris, attended by Catherine and INTO Trustee, Justin Albert.

Networking: Alex has submitted an application to IUCN on behalf of INTO. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the global authority on the status of the natural world.  Many of our INTO members are involved in IUCN in some way and by becoming members in our own right, we can strengthen how we support their engagement.

Alex has been invited to join the Heritage for Inclusive Growth Framework Advisory Group.  The first meeting will be held next week.

Catherine signed an open letter to The Times asking for more support for the British Overseas Territories.  She has also been working with Historic England on post-disaster support for Caribbean OTs.

Strength

Governance: INTO’s 2018 Accounts were finalised by our Accountants and filed before the 31 October deadline.  It was complicated this year as we needed to merge the two organisations (INTO Limited and the INTO CIO).

Innocastle: Over this period we have prepared a report on the outcomes of the Innocastle Study Visit to England and Wales in May.  Furthermore, we have also created a video summary, a series of postcards and two good practices.  One on visiteering and one on programming.

Alex spoke about INTO and the National Trust model at the Innocastle seminar in Spain in November.   He was accompanied by Georgina Holmes-Skelton, Head of Government Affairs and Ian Grafton, Property Manager of Croft Castle.

Catherine has also been liaising with the British authorities and the Innocastle project mangers on contingency planning in case of a no-deal Brexit.   Readers should rest assured that the UK government is committed to underwriting EU projects.

The Innocastle project is financed by Interreg Europe, with a total budget of €1,120,335.00 (85% ERDF, 15% co-financing).  It not only allows us to promote the National Trust model but also includes funding for our new Communications Assistant role.

Funding applications: Alex has submitted an application to the Darwin Fund to support the development of the Haiti National Trust.

Following a meeting with former INTO Trustee David Brown in September, Catherine met representatives of the American Express Foundation in New York in November.  Accompanied by David and NTEWNI Director-General Hilary McGrady, they discussed how Amex might support the 2021 ICNT.  Catherine also met Mary Anthony and Gillian Lang of the 1772 Foundation during her recent visit to the United States.

Prior to joining the World Monuments Fund Britain Summer Party, Catherine and Alex had a good meeting with Valéry Freland of ALIPH. They are exploring avenues for future collaboration.

Secretariat capacity: As noted above, our new Communications Assistant, Emma Taylor starts on 18 November.  Moreover, at the end of October, Czech post-graduate student Ondřej Chrást joined the team as an intern researching financial sustainability amongst National Trusts.

Training: Catherine participated in training in Plain English and Alex in writing for the web.

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