Faith in Maintenance (FiM), developed by Britain’s oldest conservation charity, SPAB (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings), has received a prestigious award for Education, Training and Awareness-Raising from Europa Nostra, the Pan-European Federation of Cultural Heritage.
FiM is one of 29 ‘laureate’ projects from across Europe now eligible for one of six Grand Prix awards to be announced in Istanbul in June. Grand Prix winners will be acclaimed as Europe’s most outstanding examples of heritage protection for 2010. FiM is one of just three UK ‘laureate’ projects, the others being St Davids Bishop’s Palace in Wales, and St Martin-in-the-Fields, London – both recognised in the Conservation category. FiM is the only UK project to win an award for Education this year.
Since 2002, the annual European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards scheme has celebrated outstanding initiatives within Europe’s heritage sector. By ‘spreading the power of example’, the Awards seek to encourage projects related to heritage protection throughout Europe, with the key aim of stimulating the cross-border exchange of knowledge and expertise. Describing FiM as an ‘exemplary initiative’ the judges said that SPAB’s scheme to train and create a volunteer inspection network for the maintenance of places of worship was an ‘inspirational model’.
Since its inception in 2007, FiM has already held 76 courses nationwide, attracting more than 2500 people. In 2010, at least 30 more courses will run at locations from Alnwick in the North East to Truro in Cornwall. Along with the practical courses FiM has also produced support tools, including a maintenance handbook, monthly e-bulletin, website and a DVD.
FiM has been generously supported by the HLF, English Heritage and other partners.
