- Bath Abbey among nearly 140 heritage organisations to benefit from share of the £15.5 million latest round of awards
- This award will help safeguard the historic fabric of Bath Abbey and help ensure it continues to offer a warm welcome to future generations
Bath Abbey has received a grant of £246,000 from the Government’s latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover from the impact of the Covid pandemic.
Canon Guy Bridgewater, Rector of Bath Abbey, said: “We are immensely grateful to have received this support from the Cultural Recovery Heritage Fund. This is fantastic news for the Abbey community, our staff, volunteers and supporters. Our thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England and government.
“The last year has been an anxious and unpredictable for many, yet we have been overwhelmed by the wonderful responses and messages of support we’ve received from the thousands of visitors and worshippers who have been welcomed back to the Abbey. This vital funding will help us invest to safeguard the historic fabric of this beautiful church but also to ensure we continue to offer a warm welcome to visitors and worshippers for many more years to come.”
Nearly 140 heritage organisations, visitor attractions and churches in England will benefit from £15.5 million this Christmas thanks to the government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage.
This winter sites like Alexandra Park and Palace and The British Music Experience in Liverpool will receive a share of £14.8 million in continuity support grants as part of this next round of funding. Almost £1 million in emergency grants will also be awarded to 12 Heritage organisations struggling to survive, providing them with a financial lifeline.
A total of £138 million has been awarded to heritage organisations from the three rounds of the government’s £2 billion Culture Recovery Fund support package made available for arts, culture and heritage organisations during the pandemic. This third round of grants are part of the additional £300 million announced by the Chancellor at March’s Budget.
Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said:
“I’m delighted that this vital funding from our unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund is giving so many brilliant heritage organisations a helping hand this winter. I want everyone to enjoy what our fascinating and diverse heritage has to offer and with this money we’re safeguarding these organisations for generations to come.”
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“This latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage provides a welcome Christmas boost for Heritage organisations. With the situation changing daily, the funding will be crucial in helping heritage sites navigate their seasonal activities ensuring the safety of their visitors and their communities. The grants will also support organisations in implementing business plans as they work round the challenges for the coming year, helping financial sustainability and driving tourism so that we can look to a bright future for our heritage sector.”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive, Historic England said:
“We are delighted that the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage grants continue to keep so many heritage organisations going. From major historic buildings to small community organisations promoting local heritage – all deserve this support, to continue to open up to everyone the opportunities that our shared history creates.”
Investing in heritage will support Covid19 economic recovery and make communities better places to live, creating jobs, driving tourism and improving wellbeing.
The Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage is administered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, in partnership with Historic England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
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Notes to Editors
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
About Historic England
We are Historic England, the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all.
