Paper Mill Lock. The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. © The Inland Waterways Association

The Heritage Alliance, established in 2002 as Heritage Link, is the biggest alliance of heritage interests in the UK and was set up to promote the central role of the independent movement in the heritage sector.

The Heritage Alliance represents some 90 members – major national and regional independent organisations, from larger bodies such as the National Trust, to many smaller organisations such as the Association of Building Preservation Trusts – which are in turn supported by over five million members, thousands of local groups and over 450,000 volunteers.

The Heritage Alliance aims to be an authoritative, respected and influential advocate for the non-government heritage sector; share knowledge and experience across the sector; be the catalyst for collaborative working in the sector and beyond; and connect heritage with the big issues in 21st Century society.  It provides a forum for members to formulate and promote policy on core issues, a support and information network and participates in all the major sectoral fora.

In 2012-15 The Alliance will place more emphasis on public understanding of the social value of heritage, extend its membership and support the financial resilience of the non-government heritage bodies. Its overall mission is to champion a strong and prominent independent heritage sector and to be the voice of the independent heritage movement.

The Heritage Alliance’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (pdf) Its aims are explained in the Strategic Plan 2012-15

The Alliance’s Chairman is Loyd Grossman and its Board of Trustees comprises senior figures from across the sector.

On a day-to-day basis The Alliance is run by a small, professional Secretariat comprising the Chief Executive, Policy and Communications Officer and part-time Office Manager (Mondays and Tuesdays).  There is also one member of staff attached to a major project, who works off-site.