Founded in 1938 and with a growing membership of 450, Merseyside Civic Society campaigns to preserve the best of our existing buildings and spaces and to insist on good quality design for our new ones. We are run entirely by volunteers and are a registered charity (Charity Number 221700)

MCS’s work is incredibly varied, one minute we are campaigning and crowdfunding to ‘Save the Piazza Fountain’, the next, commenting on the Liverpool City Region’s Spatial Development Strategy or working on our planned ‘Stop The Rot Campaign’ through our Heritage Watch Group. We also organise discussions with an interesting range of guest speakers, and offer site visits and guided tours during the summer.

We run several Award schemes that recognise excellence in design, conservation, heritage interpretation and public art.

We love the place we live and want to ensure future generations continue to enjoy it.

We are now looking for committed volunteers who want to use their skills to volunteer in a good cause with friendly people for roles on the Merseyside Civic Society Council.

  • No formal qualifications are required, just a passion for campaigning for our heritage and a desire to influence new development to ensure it benefits our community.
  • You don’t need to be an expert to apply for any of these roles,. We will mentor and assist you during the handover period and provide any training you require.
  • Further information about the MCS Council can be found HERE

Could you help?

  • Do you have a few spare hours per month that you would like to fill for a worthwhile cause?
  • Are you recently retired, perhaps, or looking for a voluntary role alongside your regular employment?
  • Are you a student who wants to gain valuable experience before you enter the job market?
  • Do you have any skills that you feel might be useful to the Society?

Can you or do you know someone who can fill the following roles:

 

Chair

  • Shape the vision and priorities for the Society
  • Chair meetings of the Council of the Society (4 x year)
  • Ensure effective performance of the Society and good relations between the Society and its stakeholders and members
  • Lead the development of the Society including strategic planning, succession and recruitment of officer and Council members
  • Represent MCS nationally and regionally as a spokesperson, at meetings and to the media

Vice Chair

  • help shape the vision and priorities for MCS
  • deputise for the Chair when required including high level meetings and media interviews
  • Lead the work of the Resources, Governance and Membership Sub Group
  • Liaison with affiliated societies and external bodies

Secretary

  • Preparing for AGM, in consultation with Chair, including elections and drafting annual report
  • Fielding enquiries, calls and correspondence on behalf of the Society, directing them to the most appropriate person in the society to respond.
  • Submitting annual returns to the Charity Commission
  • Maintaining the Society’s papers and records, including contact details,  membership of committees and groups, prior to archiving

Minutes Secretary

  • Producing agendas, notice of meetings and taking notes at Council meetings (4 x year)

Marketing & Social Media Executive

  • Monitor and update the MCS website – https://www.merseysidecivicsociety.org working with our design agency Nonconform – full training will be given
  • Take responsibility for our social media platforms and ensure our news and events are promoted through those channels
  • Investigate and recommend new social media channels appropriate for MCS

Newsletter Editor

  • Appraise existing enewsletter in consultation with our Design Agency Nonconform
  • Develop concept for new enewsletter and propose frequency and content
  • Source, co-ordinate  and write articles for the newsletter
  • Keep abreast of developments in the City Region of interest to our members

Awards Co-ordinator

  • Help organise MCS awards schemes including handling entries, arranging judging, organising certificates and presentation events
  • Attend meetings of the Awards and Plaques Group

 

Hon. Auditor (Independent Auditor of Accounts) 

  • Liaise with Treasurer re preparation of financial papers for annual audit of accounts (calendar year)
  • Conduct annual inspection of accounts in time for MCS Annual General meeting mid-November
  • Make any recommendation to the Council regarding the financial position of the Society

Planning Caseworker

  • Co-ordinate the assessment and MCS response to planning applications
  • Arrange for the monitoring of planning application registers, Local Authority Committee meeting agendas, news reports of development proposals to identify items of concern, including maintaining links with related specialist advisers e.g. heritage
  • Respond to items of concern on planning and development proposals identified by the Council, the Society’s wider membership or brought to MCS by others

All the above posts are voluntary and are subject to confirmation at our Annual General Meeting on  November 18.

If you think you may be interested in taking on one of the above positions  or would simply like to get involved in some other way, do get in touch and we will find a role that suits you. We are particularly keen to hear from people who would like to ‘shadow’ any of the Officer posts. This would entail working alongside the existing officer with a view to moving into that role in the future.  Please contact secretary@merseysidecivicsociety.org in the first instance. You will also find more information about Merseyside Civic Society on our website.

Further information about the MCS Council can be found HERE