The IHBC has welcomed the news that the UK Association of Preservation Trusts (UKAPT), the link body for the UK’s Building Preservation Trusts (BPTs), has been awarded a £79,000 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant to help its future organisation and management.
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘This funding will help APT grow and continue their vital work across the historic environment sector. In particular the IHBC hopes to work closely with UKAPT to help its members secure properly skilled staff that are able support their extensive volunteer network and further their conservation objectives while also helping maximise the benefits from future public investment in BT projects.’
UKAPT writes:
The UK Association of Preservation Trusts (APT) has received £79,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a transformative project to reinvigorate and strengthen the organisation. Over the next 18 months, this project will enable the Trust to extend the membership, review its brand and governance, and offer enhanced support to its nationwide network of member Trusts involved in rescuing, restoring and re-using historic buildings in their communities.
The project will focus on the future of the APT, finding new ways for its energetic and enthusiastic members to share their experience, skills and knowledge. It will enable APT to employ two part-time members of staff to support and develop the membership and to improve the technical guidance and support to the network of building preservation trusts throughout all the stages of their projects.
The UK Association of Preservation Trusts is a peer-to-peer network of building preservation trusts and community groups, which promotes and supports the rescue and sustainable use of historic buildings. Groups are often volunteer-led and motivated to rescue their valued local historic buildings after market failure, transforming eyesores into sustainable active places and spaces. As community regeneration agencies, these groups have saved over 1,000 buildings and raised over £1bn in funding.
Commenting on the award, Sarah McLeod, Chair of APT said: ‘We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. I am confident that the project will transform APT to become a more efficient, effective and resilient network, supporting our members in their valued work.’
