A golden opportunity exists to develop business leadership skills while at the same time helping turn around the fortunes of a much-loved Gloucestershire charity.

In an unusual pitch to business, which quickly declares that it is not asking for financial assistance, the long-established Forest of Dean operation is appealing instead for the right skill set.

Aiming to make itself "more financially robust" the Dean Heritage Centre is seeking to open the eyes of prospective candidates to an opportunity to develop themselves - and help a good cause at the same time.

And all for just two days a month.

Alison Breton, chair of trustees at the Soudley-based centre, an accredited museum, said: "As a small heritage charity based in the Forest of Dean we are not asking you for money but are seeking assistance with a business training opportunity.

"We have the facilities and resources to offer an opportunity for a manager to hone the range of skills needed to run an organisation.

"Commercial training courses cannot offer this sort of opportunity, but we can offer hands-on experience of decision making, at all levels within our organisation.

"If you are a charity then our offer provides a really useful learning opportunity for a manager within your organisation, however any organisation can benefit from a member of their team studying issues and problem solving within a different managerial context."

She added: "The seconded person would assist in setting the strategic plan and also help implement it. They would see how an organisation works from the trustees' perspective.

"The Dean Heritage Centre faces a range of varied challenges and needs to recruit a variety of skills to our board that will also benefit our existing trustees.

"One of our current trustees is the chief executive of a charity in Bedfordshire. His trustee board give him one day a week so that he can work with another organisation and gain knowledge and skills that will be beneficial to their own organisation.

"Another trustee works for the Museum of Wales, whilst a third is a global education consultant. We need people from business with managerial, HR, and finance to broaden the range of skills and knowledge available to our Board of Trustees.

"Unfortunately we are unable to offer those people financial support, but they would gain rewards in other ways."

Intrigued? Email alison@deanheritagecentre.com  or visit Dean Heritage Centre .