WELCOME 

This is an important and exciting moment to join the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust as we enter our 25th anniversary year. We have recently been awarded significant support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, enabling us to strengthen our organisational resilience, expand participation, and increase the public value and visibility of our work. 

Over the past year, the Trust has been led by Jannine Parry, following the stewardship of Alex Bartholomew, who spent more than a decade developing the role under our founders, John and Katie Howson. The organisation is now entering a new phase of development, focused on long-term sustainability, partnership working, and increased impact across the East Anglian region. 

The Trust is in a strong financial position and well placed to build on its achievements. Priorities for the coming period include the delivery of Traditional Music Day on 19^th  September 2026, continued engagement at FolkEast, and the extension of our heritage, learning, and participation programmes across the wider East Anglia area. 

We welcome applications from individuals who share our commitment to safeguarding and sharing heritage. Applications should be submitted to info@eatmt.org.uk by 16th January 2026. If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please email the address above to arrange a time to talk. 

Jannine Parry 
Operations Manager 
East Anglian Traditional Music Trust 

ABOUT US 

The East Anglian Traditional Music Trust (EATMT) is a registered charity based in Suffolk, working to sustain, celebrate, and share the traditional music heritage of East Anglia. The Trust supports people of all ages to discover, participate in, and pass on the region’s folk music traditions, ensuring they remain relevant and accessible for future generations. 

The traditional music of East Anglia represents a nationally significant cultural heritage. It has inspired projects about composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and continues to be documented through recordings, publications, and community-led research. The Trust plays a key role in safeguarding this living heritage through performance, education, archiving, and skills development. 

The Trust is based at Red Gables, Stowmarket, following many years at the Museum of East Anglian Life. From this base, the Operations Manager, staff and volunteers manage the Trust’s office and archives, supported by strong partnerships with Mid Suffolk District Council and Stowmarket Town Council. 

EATMT delivers an inclusive programme of community engagement, learning, and participation, alongside a long-established calendar of public events. Its work reaches local, regional, and national audiences, and increasingly engages children and young people, emerging artists, and communities who may not traditionally access folk or heritage activity. 

HISTORY 

The Trust was founded in 2000 by John and Katie Howson, following more than two decades of field research, recording, and documentation of East Anglian traditional music. Their establishment of Traditional Music Day as a national focus for folk music, and their receipt of Gold Medals from the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS), reflects the lasting significance of their contribution to the sector. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Trust adapted its delivery through digital presentation and new models of engagement, ensuring continuity of access to heritage activity. Its current programme includes Sunday afternoon Sessions in village halls, schools workshops, instrument workshops, Stepdance Day, and culminates in Traditional Music Day (TMD), held in the heart of Stowmarket. TMD offers a diverse programme of talks, workshops, informal sessions, and concerts, from outdoor performances in the town centre to a final concert at The John Peel Centre.  

Between 2022 and 2024, the Trust delivered the major Vaughan Williams Folk project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project included an extensive school’s programme, activity across four counties, and a landmark concert at TMD 2023 featuring eight young folk musicians and composers, supporting skills development, creativity, and intergenerational learning. 

MISSION STATEMENT 

“In 2030, the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust will be maintaining engagement and participation in the song and dance traditions of the communities of East Anglia, through a well-planned and resourced programme of events across the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. It will encourage transmission of these traditions and a sense of belonging through its activities, which will be delivered by its team of staff and volunteers across the region, with a focus on market towns and grassroots communities.” 

Our Strategic Aims to realise this vision: 

1. Secure funding for core/development activities and projects 
2. Strengthen the board of trustees (in number, diversity and skills) and build the staff and volunteer team 
3. Continue to co-ordinate a programme of events and a pipeline of projects 
4. Strengthen the trust’s region-wide presence, particularly outside Suffolk, through on-the-ground presence and partnerships 
5. Enhance the reach and visibility of the trust through a communications plan 

JOB DESCRIPTION – EAST ANGLIAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC TRUST (EATMT) 

 
Job Title: Project Co-ordinator 

Reports To: Project Director 

Liaises with: Volunteer Administrator, Events Promoter, Artistic Director and Trustees as appropriate. 

Primary purpose: Coordinator the Heritage Lottery Funded project –  

Celebrating 25 years of the Traditional Music in East Anglia 

Contract: 21month fixed term (with potential for extension) 
Hours: 18.75 hours per week but prepared to be flexible based on the needs of the Trust and job role 

Remuneration: £27k pro rata (0.5 fte – Actual pay £13,500 per year) – Salary review after 6 months 

Pension: 6% of salary 

Annual Leave: 0.5 of 25 days per year, plus national holidays. 

Responsible to: Project Director 

Start: 1^st February 2026 or soon after. 

Job Purpose 

The Project Co-ordinator will work in partnership with the Project Director to help move the Trust forward and ensure the appropriate resources to expand further.  

 Key Duties and Responsibilities 

• Booking venues and artists, setting up events, arranging training courses for volunteers, staff and trustees, and monitoring the evaluation scheme. 
• Assisting the Project Director in running events and developing new marketing strategies especially digital and via social media. 
• In liaison with the Volunteer Administrator, recruitand train volunteers and work closely with them to ensure they understand and meet expectations. 
• Ensure that all projects receive proper attention in terms of media exposure, reputation enhancement, and national profile. 
• To identify and write funding bids for a variety of projects and to a large cross section of funders to include local authorities in the project area, lottery funds for larger scale projects that explore particular activities, groups and themes, Trusts and foundations for local support and major Trusts and foundations for strategic investment and focus. 
• To contribute ideas and evaluation to the earned income made from events e.g. stepdancing competitions, Sunday sessions, concerts, and other opportunities to develop income as appropriate. 
• To identify opportunities to increase development income through donations, Friends of EATMT membership, sales and hires not related to specific projects. 
• To identify and propose ideas and solutions to increase improved access to the archives.  
• To attend Board meetings as required. 

Skills and Experience 

Essential 

• Experience in event organisation including booking venues and artists, setting up events, co-ordinating activities and working with volunteers, staff or trustees. 
• Experience working within schools/college or community settings delivering arts, music, or cultural projects. 
• Understanding of project evaluation methods, including data collection and reporting. 
• Good understanding of digital communication including social media platforms, websites, and newsletter tools. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, email systems, and digital administration tools. 
• Understanding of marketing principles, particularly digital and social media strategies. 
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines. 
• Ability to work independently and take initiative while also being an effective team member. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to plan, schedule and deliver multiple activities running simultaneously. 

 Personal Qualities 

• Passion for music, song, and dance. 
• Professional, reliable, and friendly approach. 
• Commitment to inclusivity, safeguarding, and community engagement. 
• Willingness to work flexibly including some weekends and evenings. 
• Willingness to undertake relevant training (safeguarding, health, and safety etc). 
• Ability to co-ordinate volunteer activities  
• Ability to represent the Trust positively at events and when required at Board meetings. 
• Ability to co-ordinate project activities away from the office. 
• Ability to support the Project Director with both practical event delivery and strategic planning. 

Desirable 

• Experience liaising with a wide range of people including artists, partner organisations, schools, community groups, volunteers, and funders. 
• Experience writing or contributing to funding bids or grant applications (particularly for local authorities, trusts, foundations, and National Lottery funders). 
• Ability to contribute creative ideas to event development, earned income opportunities, and marketing approaches. 
• Experience generating earned or development income through donations, supporter schemes, membership programmes, sales, or hires.  
• Experience managing and supporting digital archives, heritage collections, or similar resources. 
• Background or strong personal interest in traditional folk music, dance, or cultural heritage. 
• Health and safety training (including risk assessments for events).  
• Safeguarding training (particularly relating to children or vulnerable adults). 
• First aid training 
• Experience using design or digital media tools e.g. Canva, Publisher, basic video editing. 
• Experience working with budgets or supporting financial administration. 
• Experience assisting with strategy, organisational development, or reputation building. 
• Familiarity with web platforms such as wordpress or silver stripe 

Please apply with an attachment detailing why you would be suitable for this job, meet the person specification and a current CV with full details of address and contact numbers. Please label the attachment SURNAME-Project Coordinator app.  

Expressions of interest and Questions? Please email the Project Director at info@eatmt.org.uk to arrange a conversation with our Operations Manager, Jannine Parry. 

Closing date for applications to info@eatmt.org.uk: Friday 16^th January 2026  Interviews: Friday 23^rd or Monday 26^th 2026