Heritage Emergency Fund Support
We're so delighted to have received a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund to support our work in conserving the heritage of our Grade II* listed church building.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many heritage buildings have suffered due to a reduction in use and routine maintenance. In addition, many buildings have become less secure, and have not always had the staff or volunteers available to respond to building issues.
Another challenge for many heritage buildings - ours included! - is the loss of income during 2020-21 due to less premises hires. All the usual running costs continue regardless: utilities, insurance and the like.
The Heritage Emergency Fund has provided a life-line in the form of financial grants to organisations like ours. We were awarded just under £40,000 in the autumn of 2020 to undertake a programme of repairs and modifications to help us be ready for re-opening after COVID. These include:
- Refurbishing our toilets to make them COVID Secure
- Providing hand sanitation facilties
- Replacing external lighting to improve site security
- Installing CCTV to improve site security
- Replacing damaged roof slates
- Replacing faulty drain pumps in crypt and installing flood barrier
- Contributing to cost of insurance and utilities as well as regular health and safety maintenance.
We're looking forward to welcoming our congregation and community back into our church building in due course, and we're thankful for the support of the Heritage Emergency Fund in supporting this project.