The Civic Trust charity representing more than 700 civic societies across much of England has closed due to lack of funding. The Civic Trust was the voice for local groups dedicated to improving their civic and architectural spaces. The trust, which ran awards and open days, said it has been hit particularly hard by “the squeeze on local authority spending in the current climate”. The civic trusts in Scotland and Wales and the north of England said they were continuing as usual.
Philip Kolvin QC said on behalf of the English civic trust: “I still passionately believe in the civic movement, but it now needs grassroots members of vision and energy to start afresh with a new organisation, working within its means and building gradually from the bottom.” The trust undertook a range of work to improve public spaces, encourage people-friendly architecture and support the preservation of local heritage sites.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8004262.stm
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Civic Trusts in Wales, Scotland and North of England say:
‘Civic Trusts in Wales, Scotland and North of England are alive and well!
The Civic Trust for Wales learned today that its English partner, the Civic Trust, has gone into administration. We are saddened by this news, which stems from loss of a major contract and the decline in private sector sponsorship as a consequence of recession. We wish to make it clear that the Civic Trust for Wales and its partners are wholly independent organisations and are unaffected financially or organisationally by the situation in England. In Wales, for example, we benefit from robust Assembly Government support for our programmes, which include the support of civic societies and the promotion of our popular heritage access scheme, Open Doors Days. ’
Heritage Link says: ‘Heritage Link is dismayed to hear through the BBC news website that one of its valued members the Civic Trust for England has gone into administration. The Civic Trust founded in 1957 captured the mood of the nation when quality of life, improving and caring for places where people live and work, won political and popular support. As an the umbrella body for over 750 Civic Societies in England, representing over 250,000 individuals it brought the local amenity societies into national policy making. As one of Heritage Link’s 78 national members, the Civic Trust has made a significant contribution to policy work and in sharing best practice on planning and heritage matters including heritage protection reform. That special perspective will be sorely missed.
The Civic Trust is best known for the Civic Trust Awards and Heritage Open Days (HODs). Since 1994 UK wide Heritage Open Days have attracted huge new audiences, through visiting or volunteering. In 2008 a record 3,717 places and activities took part. For four days in September, HODs opens up the extraordinary heritage sites on our doorsteps. HODs celebrates England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture. HODs is so vital in sharing the appeal of our heritage that it must not be lost.
Anthea Case Chairman of Heritage Link said ‘ HODs is the genie of the heritage world that can’t be put back in its bottle. It articulates the emotional response that people have to our wonderful historic surroundings. All that enthusiasm and energy that heritage can generate is brilliantly demonstrated by HODs.’
