Community Heritage Leadership Trainee
Location: David Livingstone Birthplace, Blantyre
Duration: 14-month paid placement
Bursary: £19,796 (tax-free, with potential increase per MA guidelines)
Application Deadline: Tuesday 12th May 2026 by 5pm
Are you passionate about heritage, community engagement, and storytelling?
Do you want to play a key role in shaping how Scotland’s colonial past is interpreted and presented today?
Join the Heritage Leadership Programme and spend 14 months gaining hands-on experience at the David Livingstone Birthplace – Scotland’s only independent museum dedicated to re-examining Livingstone’s legacy in the context of slavery, colonialism, and African histories.
What’s in it for you?
– A 14-month immersive placement with the museum’s operational and engagement team
– An SVQ Level 3 in Museums & Galleries Practice https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/74396.html
– A Leadership Qualification to boost your career
– Access to specialist training via the Museums Association and CEC Learning Hub
– A £19,796 tax-free bursary to support you during the placement
About the Host Organisation
The David Livingstone Birthplace in Blantyre offers a unique environment for heritage exploration. This award-winning museum and parkland challenges historical narratives, sheds light on Black history, and opens critical conversations around Scotland’s role in slavery and colonisation.
What You’ll Do
As a Trainee, you’ll:
– Welcome visitors and support daily museum operations
– Assist with retail, café, ticketing and enquiries
– Work closely with staff and volunteers on exhibitions, events, and school programmes
– Contribute to community engagement and evaluation activities
– Participate in storytelling and interpretation of sensitive historical content
– Work weekends and occasional evenings as part of a dynamic team
Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who:
– Has a genuine interest in museums, history, and social justice
– Enjoys working with people from all walks of life
– Is confident, motivated, and open to learning
– Can work independently and in a team
– Is ready to study alongside the role and commit to personal development
Desirable experience includes customer service, community engagement, education/youth work, or previous work in cultural or tourism venues.
Skills You’ll Gain
– Communication & negotiation
– Leadership & decision-making
– Project and event coordination
– Community consultation
– Public interpretation of complex histories
– Use of Microsoft 365 and digital tools
We Welcome Your Application
This opportunity is ideal for individuals from underrepresented or marginalised communities, including those with lived experience of racism, migration, or social exclusion. You do not need a university degree to apply.
How to Apply ibrahim@nextstepinitiative.org.uk
Complete an application form and send it with a covering letter. ibrahim@nextstepinitiative.org.uk