Press release, Tuesday 14th July
National Historic Ships UK gains support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for resilience project: Leading Lights
Support* from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Leading Lights project was announced at an event held on Monday 13th July to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of National Historic Ships UK. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, this project aims to invest in historic vessels UK-wide, making the sector more resilient, connected and informed. Leading Lights will create a lasting legacy, empowering NHS-UK to grow and consolidate its support for the sector over the two decades to come.
Development funding of £140,040 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund, with a £15,560 match-funding award from the Pilgrim Trust, which will help NHS-UK progress its plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £1.2m at a later date.
The project is designed to support craft on the National Register of Historic Vessels, as well as the infrastructure and techniques needed to maintain and conserve them. With many vessel custodians facing significant pressures and 30% of the National Historic Fleet identified as being at risk, the UK’s maritime heritage will continue to decline without this much-needed funding.
During the delivery phase of this project, heritage will be revitalised through organisational health checks, with professional follow-up support. Custodians will be upskilled with improved planning and risk assessment tools, practical maintenance training and online workshops. A Virtual Volunteering scheme will engage communities with less access to the water, whilst future proofing and contingency planning guidance will build on previous climate change research, helping custodians to forward think, adapt and mitigate likely impacts.
The National Historic Ships Registers will be reviewed, ensuring that the Historic Fleet remains an effective means of prioritising funding, with digital recording of selected at risk vessels. A 20-year masterplan for NHS-UK will increase its capacity to support the sector in the longer term, with greater regional networking opportunities.
Hannah Cunliffe, Director of NHS-UK said: “We are delighted to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Pilgrim Trust. Thanks to National Lottery players we can now develop our plans to strengthen and support the historic vessel sector.”
In addition to support for the Leading Lights project, the Heritage Fund today announced support for two historic vessel projects in Scotland: In Orkney, the Longhope Lifeboat Museum will safeguard the only remaining launchable historic lifeboat in the UK and the museum that tells the story of the station’s lifesaving history which influences the development of modern lifeboats. In Cellardyke in Fife, a temporary boatyard will be built in the grounds of a school allowing young people and the local community to gain heritage craft skills and play a hands on role in rebuilding the Manx Beauty, an historic fishing vessel.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Historic vessels are a remarkable part of the UK’s heritage, representing industrial and coastal history, and encapsulating the stories of communities and places. However, we know that the skills and organisations needed to care for them are under increasing pressure. Thanks to National Lottery players, this UK-wide investment will help revive endangered skills, boost the capacity and resilience needed to safeguard these vessels, and involve communities across the UK so that the stories they carry are preserved for future generations.”
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
*Grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. National Historic Ships UK has initially been granted round one development funding of £140,040 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by the Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £1.286m.
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
About the Pilgrim Trust
The Pilgrim Trust is a UK wide independent grant-making charitable trust. We believe that the wellbeing of the nation is enhanced both by its cultural heritage and by social initiatives that support people experiencing disadvantage. We support organisations that share our commitment to delivering positive and lasting change.
Further information
For further information, images and interviews please contact Kathryn Jones at National Historic Ships UK on 0208 312 8558 / info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk