{"id":44112,"date":"2025-09-16T16:37:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T15:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=44112"},"modified":"2025-09-16T16:37:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T15:37:33","slug":"benefact-trust-launches-national-heritage-skills-programme-in-partnership-with-cathedrals-workshop-fellowship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=44112","title":{"rendered":"Benefact Trust launches national heritage skills programme in partnership with Cathedrals\u2019 Workshop Fellowship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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image for illustration: Gloucester Cathedral by Joanna Theobald<\/sub><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Benefact Trust Scholars Programme – funded by a \u00a32.1m grant from Benefact Trust – will support 36 heritage students at 14 cathedrals, over the next four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

BENEFACT Trust writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 A new chapter in the preservation of the UK\u2019s historic cathedrals begins today with the official launch of the \u2018Benefact Trust Scholars Programme,\u2019 an exciting initiative that will train the next generation of master craftspeople in traditional heritage skills\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Benefact Trust Scholars Programme launch event, held at Lichfield Cathedral on 23rd June, was an opportunity to bring together leaders in heritage conservation, cathedral representatives, and the first cohort of scholars to celebrate the beginning of this exciting, new programme. Launched in partnership with the Cathedrals\u2019 Workshop Fellowship (CWF), the programme is funded by a \u00a32.1m grant from Benefact Trust and will support 36 scholars over the next four years. These scholars will receive hands-on training in crafts such as stonemasonry, working across 14 of the UK\u2019s most iconic cathedrals that make up the CWF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cathedrals\u2019 Workshop Fellowship is an association of Anglican cathedrals established to provide education and training for the craftspeople who maintain our cathedrals and other historic buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Sheppard, CWF Executive Director, covered the importance of the programme at the launch event: \u2018We are at a critical juncture in the story of heritage conservation. Across the UK, our historic buildings \u2013 churches, cathedrals, castles, and civic structures \u2013 face increasing challenges: the effects of climate change, the ageing of traditional materials, and a diminishing workforce of skilled craftspeople. \u2018Trades like stonemasonry, joinery, plasterwork, and leadwork \u2013 once passed down through generations \u2013 are becoming increasingly rare. And yet, the need for these skills has never been greater. Without urgent and strategic investment in skills and education, we face a serious crisis in our ability to care for these nationally significant buildings. That\u2019s where the Benefact Trust Scholars Programme comes in.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helen Gray, Benefact Trust Director, talked about how privileged the Trust was to partner with CWF: \u2018When the opportunity finally arose to support CWF, the decision was unanimous.  Benefact Trust is proud to pledge a record-breaking grant of \u00a32.1m over four years, with the aspiration to support 36 apprentices in developing the skills and qualifications needed to pursue meaningful careers in the heritage sector. This is not only the largest grant ever awarded by the Trust\u2014it is also the longest. It stands as a clear demonstration of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of heritage professionals.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preserving heritage in the UK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Benefact Trust Scholars Programme will help to secure the future of the heritage sector. Heritage conservation is not only essential for preserving the architectural and spiritual fabric of the UK\u2019s historic buildings – it also offers meaningful, long-term career opportunities. As the demand for skilled craftspeople grows and the current workforce ages, programmes like this are vital for bringing in the next generation of heritage talent.  The Benefact Trust Scholars will not only gain accredited qualifications and expert mentorship, but real-world experience in some of the world\u2019s most incredible cathedrals. The participating cathedrals include Canterbury, Chester, Durham, Exeter, Gloucester, Lincoln, Lichfield, Salisbury, St Paul\u2019s, Westminster Abbey, Winchester, Worcester, York Minster, and Wells.  The first 16 Benefact Trust Scholars will start their placements in September 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more….<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

image for illustration: Gloucester Cathedral by Joanna Theobald The Benefact Trust Scholars Programme – funded by a \u00a32.1m grant from Benefact Trust – will support 36 heritage students at 14 cathedrals, over the next four years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[6,56,57,18,23,29,22,521,520],"class_list":["post-44112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sector-newsblog","tag-building","tag-cathedral","tag-church","tag-conservation","tag-expertise","tag-heritage","tag-skills","tag-trust","tag-workshop"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44112"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44113,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44112\/revisions\/44113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}