The Atkinson Development Trust has Trustees offering diverse skills, knowledge and experience who are appointed in compliance with the guidelines set by the Charity Commission. The Trustees serve for a term of two years in a voluntary capacity.
Alice Clark, Chair
Alice is an arts and heritage consultant specialising in socially engaged practice. She is passionate about making art accessible to everyone, and supports organisations to develop programmes that engage marginalised groups. Alice has worked with some of the UK’s most high-profile venues, from theatres and galleries, to parks and churches. Previous roles include Exhibitions Manager at University of the Arts London, and Head of Galleries at The Lowry.
As a sandgrounder, Alice recognises and appreciates the difference The Atkinson has made to Sefton. Having recently moved back to the town with her young family, Alice is proud and excited to play a part in supporting The Atkinson as a Trustee.
Ian Bryden, Treasurer
Ian lives in Formby and has been involved in all aspects of amateur theatre in Sefton over many years.
He is an admirer of The Atkinson and all that it offers to the people of Sefton and is keen to help to take the fine examples of art and history that The Atkinson has to offer to an even wider audience throughout Sefton.
Ian brings to The Atkinson Development Trust many years’ experience as a consultant and project manager in various aspects of retail with top UK companies.
Ian joined the Trust as Treasurer in October 2018.
Laura Bell
Laura is an award-winning journalist who has spent the last 15 years leading communications and marketing teams across the UK for organisations in the public and private sectors. More recently she established and grew a successful Liverpool office for a B-Corp certified PR agency before setting up her own PR and communications company.
Living in Southport with her young family, Laura is passionate about the Atkinson as a valued community resource and hopes to use her skills to better promote TADT and increase donations.
Jill Carruthers
Having grown up in Formby, The Atkinson was key part of Jill’s childhood, attending exhibitions, concerts and even performing at Southport theatre on several occasions. Now living in Blackpool, Jill is passionate about the North and keen to make a difference. She hopes to support The Atkinson to grow their audiences, raise their profile and develop its outreach.
Jill’s career has been varied in the Arts and Heritage sector for over 15 years. As a qualified Project Manager Jill has recently seen the successful opening of Showtown – Blackpool’s new museum. Jill will bring her experience of audience development, fundraising and stakeholder relations to support the work of The Atkinson Development Trust.
Gemma Grady Hill
Gemma has worked for the National Trust Consultancy Team for over 12 years, within this time she has worked in an expert advisory role for several major National Trust Visitor Welcome projects across the North West. Throughout her career she has held various leadership roles within the private and third sector. As a volunteer she has served as a Trustee on the Board Directors for Lancashire Wildlife Trust since 2018.
Gemma adores living in Southport and can often be found at the Atkinson enjoying the exhibitions and productions. A keen advocate for the importance of the Arts, she is a Member of the Museums Association and currently studying an MA in 19th Century studies, she is keen to explore opportunities with the existing partnership between Edge Hill University and The Atkinson. She hopes to bring her expertise in Visitor Business, Membership, Heritage and Fundraising to support the Atkinson Development Trust.
Lindsey Holding, Administrator
A former Programme Manager in the Arts, Lindsey joined the Trust towards the end of 2020, she has served a period as Interim Chair and now supports the Trust as Administrator. She believes everybody should have access to the arts and admires the fantastic selection of treasures, spaces and services that The Atkinson has to offer the Sefton community – all in the heart of Southport! Her favourite part of being a Trustee so far has been learning about the projects and how the staff, Trust and community have worked collaboratively to inspire and nurture projects such as The Wellbeing Choir, which has provided the opportunity for friendship with a ripple effect of supporting other community groups and charities through their performances.
Lindsey also works as Administrator for Nature North, she is Coordinator for Ribble Valley Climate Action Network, and occasionally works freelance as a Music Programmer. In her spare time she enjoys being outdoors amongst nature, supporting the creative community, writing & performing music and continuing her studies with the Open University towards a degree in Environmental Science.
Dom Potter
Dom is an experienced business founder, startup investor and corporate executive. He has worked in senior positions for IKEA and UNICEF and was inaugural Professor of Practice for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The University of Nottingham. Currently he is focused on building data platforms to help address the climate crisis.
Dom and his family returned home to Southport after spending five years in the forest of Sweden and can often be found in the Library or attending one of the family shows on at The Atkinson. He is a believer in the power of place and is excited to help such an important civic institution have a great impact on the local community.
Bernadette Reynolds (Berni)
Bernie is an Atkinson Volunteer who has been volunteering in the Cultural Industries since being a teenager. She has been a Front of House Assistant, a Chaperone, a drama facilitator, on art gallery ‘Friends’ committees and as an access volunteer for those with learning difficulties. Having moved to Southport in 2020, Berni volunteers at The Atkinson and Southport Dramatic Club and these roles continue. She is passionate about the power of drama in raising young people’s confidence and giving them extended friendship groups and new experiences. Berni wants to see more young people within our building enjoying all that The Atkinson has to offer.
Berni was involved in the conservation and setting up of the Teddy Bear exhibition on our first-floor landing, and of their yearly inspections. You can catch her in action on The Atkinson website. She is also an adoptee of 2 bears Coco and Winton.
Berni’s academic background includes a Degree and Masters in Art History from The Open University. Her first visit to The Atkinson was as a Friend of The Whitworth Art Gallery 10 years ago, when The Atkinson hosted a ‘Friends’ conference. Berni recalls writing an article for The Whitworth’s Perspective about the event.
Berni sees joining The Atkinson Development Trust as a Trustee as a natural progression and a good use of her life-time skills now that she is semi-retired.
Matt Smith
Matt has lived and worked in Sefton for over twenty five years and is a keen supporter of The Atkinson’s work and a regular visitor. With a day job as Head of Communications in a national charity supporting independent museums, and over twenty years of working in senior level marketing communications roles in the creative and higher education sectors, he is equipped with a range of skills relevant to the current and future work of the Trust.
Stephen Whittle
Stephen Whittle has been the Principal Manager of The Atkinson’s museum and gallery service since 2013. Stephen has managed a variety of museum services across the North West over the last 25 years and was appointed as a Trustee in 2018.
His role is to connect the work of The Atkinson with that of the Trust and to help develop projects that inspire and engage communities all over Sefton.
If you would like to contact the Board, please email us at: hello@atkinsontrust.org.uk
The Atkinson Development Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity Number 1161020.
