One of the largest charities in the country is the National Trust. It is an organization devoted to protecting the parks, stately homes, landscapes and coastlines of the United Kingdom. The only way that it can hope to maintain this massive cost is by relying on the membership which now stands at 3 million strong. Each member pays a yearly or monthly subscription to the Trust and it is this income that enables it to function. There are also those that make one large payment to give them life membership, which actually works out to be cheaper in the long run and the Trust prefers that you take up a monthly direct debit. How did this organization come into being?
In the late nineteenth century many writers, artists, designers, and philanthropists were concerned. The pace of industrialization from the industrial revolution was expanding rapidly. Towns were growing and it seemed as if the entire countryside was going to be covered with urban sprawl and factories. They banded together and used their own money and influence on rich friends and politicians to create an organization that was sworn to make sure that this would not happen. They would draw a thin green line as it were to stop or stall development. They would also pay for the upkeep of the land via a private subscription method where members could visit. They also made it open to the general public.
In one attempt they had created the model that the National trust still uses today. It’s mission has not really changed, although it focuses more on protecting what it has and is not a major purchaser as it was. It now looks after a significant coastline and is one of the largest landowners in the country, which is good news as it means that vast swathes of wonderland and fields can never be built on. It is independent of Government, deliberately, and this has as been a great benefit as politicians and Governments can be nothing if not duplicitous when it comes to landscape if it does not fit with their plans. The protection of Stately homes was the behest of William Morris. He was a leader of the arts and crafts movement and the homes of the rich usually held beautiful examples of handwork. He was concerned that mass manufacturing would mean that pieces of craft would be lost as would the ability to make them.
Its vast membership likes to visit the properties and needs a robust Visitor Management System UK if you need one then why not visit ofec.co.uk/web-and-software-development-services/digital-visitors-and-staff-signing-in-book.aspx to look at some examples.
