2015 Annual Report

In 2015, we welcomed a new Chairman, Dame Fiona Reynolds, who wrote in her first Annual Report message:

“The highlight of 2015 for me was not surprisingly the International Conference of National Trusts in my adopted home town of Cambridge. What a wonderful week that was! So many inspiring people, places and stories all coming together under the banner of the National Trust movement. And as I listened to delegates’ concerns and successes, three themes began to emerge around which we are now focussing our activities and programming: Family, growth and voice.

Family: We are a family, and families share values and look after everyone. Everyone matters, small and large, and our job is to help them all do their very best work. We’re also exploring what it means to be a member of the INTO family, such as membership benefits and how we use our brand and logo

Growth: Building global capacity for conservation is vitally important. The more people that share the values of heritage – of identity, memory, diversity, humanity – the more chance there is that protecting our heritage will become integral to our global society’s future. Our growth strand encompasses growing the capacity of National Trusts (existing and new) as well as the growth of INTO. 

Voice: Delegates at Cambridge urged INTO to speak up more loudly and more often on behalf of the National Trust movement. We will continue to develop the role and position of INTO and its members as the growing voice for heritage. We have already instigated a new annual message to coincide with World Heritage Day in April each year

And while it’s tough, I do believe there’s reason for hope. We are trusted organisations and people like what we do. We stand for the things that matter but money can’t buy in a world which risks thinking the only things that matter are what money can buy.

Beauty, identity, cultural heritage, nature, landscapes – these are the things make us human. Our organisations stand for these things and bring joy to millions of people.

I’m hugely enjoying my term as INTO Chairman. Together with the new Executive Committee, we stand on the shoulders of the giants who have gone before us. We will work hard for you as members of our partnership; a family where everyone matters.”