Stonehenge & Avebury World Heritage Site

Project: Governance and Funding Strategy

The development of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Trust Strategic Plan (2025–2028) and accompanying Fundraising Strategy was undertaken as part of a wider National Lottery Heritage Fund project to develop long-term sustainability at this iconic site.

Feasibility was undertaken into governance structures involving extensive research, stakeholder consultation, ongoing governance review, financial planning, and strategic analysis. The work included engagement with representatives from across the World Heritage Site partnership, drawing together perspectives from heritage organisations, local authorities, community stakeholders and sector specialists to define the vision, mission and long-term objectives.

A Strategic Plan assessed governance arrangements, organisational structures, risk management, financial sustainability, communications and the development of fundable propositions for projects within the World Heritage Site ten-year Management Plan. It also established a detailed action plan, performance indicators, budget forecasts and recommendations for partnership working and organisational growth.

A Fundraising Strategy complemented this work through a comprehensive review of fundraising opportunities, market conditions, income streams, funding feasibility and return-on-investment analysis. It identified realistic funding targets, assessed risks and constraints, developed a case for support, and recommended a phased approach to building fundraising capacity, project delivery and financial resilience. Together, the two documents provide a strategic roadmap for protecting, enhancing and sustaining the Outstanding Universal Value of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site while establishing the Trust as an effective and financially sustainable organisation. It also helped to secure three year funding for the World Heritage Site from it’s core partners.

Testimonial: Claire Selman, Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Partnership Manager

“Claire worked with the Stonehenge & Avebury World Heritage Site Partnership as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund project exploring financial resilience and diversification of funding for increased project delivery. Our experience of working with Claire is perfectly summarised by several partners stating they wish Claire had joined us sooner. Claire’s work explored in depth how a new charity could operate and seek funding, producing a Strategic Plan and Fundraising Strategy. Claire applied a wealth of experience and insight invaluable to the advancement of our project and the longevity of its outcomes. She is an excellent communicator, consulting successfully with a wide range of large organisations and local stakeholders. I’m particularly grateful that Claire without hesitation adapted to the needs of our project and partners and she quickly became a trusted and well-respected member of our project team.”