Anger at National Trust’s bias alert

THE National Trust is facing a backlash over plans to make its volunteers take diversity training after lockdown.

The charity says its “everyday inclusion” courses aim to help unpaid staff “raise awareness” of their “unintended biases”.

But one volunteer said: “We just want to show off the beautiful gardens and houses that people come to see. It will put people off volunteering if you have to be put through this nonsense.”

Some volunteers have resigned over the training, claiming it is part of the Trust’s controversial current “agenda”.

Last year, the Trust published a report into links between 93 of its properties and historic colonialism and slavery.

It included Chartwell, Churchill’s former home in Kent, due to his time as Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Members have launched a protest group, called The Restore Trust, which argues a “political agenda has come to dominate” the National Trust’s work.

However, the Trust yesterday insisted the training had been in place for years.

A spokesman for the charity said the only training volunteers must take before returning is on Covid restrictions.

He added: “As part of their ongoing development, volunteers are given time to undertake a number of mandatory training courses.

“Our everyday inclusion training... covers a broad range of diversity and inclusion issues including age, disability, sexual orientation and religious beliefs. Nine out of 10 volunteers rated the training as good or excellent.”