Six more local organisations are set to benefit from “Heritage Starter” grants to support heritage projects, small and large, made possible thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Over the next 18 months, the programme aims to encourage people from North East Lincolnshire and beyond to consider what they know, or think they know, of North East Lincolnshire, its people and how North East Lincolnshire has been shaped the world.
This second round of grants will help showcase historical research, and provide input to future uses of heritage assets and cultural events.
Highlighting Humberston Fitties Heritage is a research project that will create a collection of materials to promote the heritage of the site.
Sarah Palmer, working with the Humberston Fitties CIC, said, “We want this project to help preserve the Conservation Area status of this site, documenting the site’s history, educating new chalet owners, and engaging the local and visitor communities about the importance of the social history of the Fitties.”
The remarkable legacy of Edward Watkin, ‘Mr Grimsby’ is a project to develop pilot educational resources about Watkin’s achievements in the area.
Gail Graham from the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire is working with the Edward Watkin Society on the project. “Among Watkin’s greatest achievements in England was his work in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Through his dominance as chairman for over 30 years of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway he saw the potential to turn the port of Grimsby into the biggest fishing port in the world and to create a major holiday resort, Cleethorpes.
“We want to work with the Society to explore potential for creating a large education resource and community event, focusing on Grimsby and Cleethorpes.”
History of Grimsby Town is a proposal submitted by Grimsby Town Sports & Education Trust to help bring the history of the dominant local football club alive.
Graham Rodger, from the Sports and Education Trust, said: “Through this project we’re hoping to open a reminiscence hub within the town centre to present factual information on the history of the club. This will include actual artifacts such as shirts, as well as presentation boards on prominent dates.”
Exploring Weelsby Hall’s heritage and environment is a project by Linkage Community Trust, a successful charity that supports people with learning disabilities in North East Lincolnshire.
Valerie Waby, from Linkage, said: “This project will allow us to continue our exploration of Weelsby Hall’s heritage, creating a video documentary showcasing what the site means to our adult clients. This will help us identify how we can expand and diversify its services on the site, and look at how we can use the historic buildings in the future.”
FISH TOWN. 1990 to 2020. The EU Years. This is a photographic book and gallery exhibition by professional documentary photographer, Steve Thornton.
Steve said: “I produced a project in 1989/90 documenting the life of Grimsby fishing industry prior the new European Union (EU) health & safety regulations coming into force. I wanted to revive that project and look at how things have changed now that we’ve left the EU. As a result of the project, there will be a 280 page book containing the full collection of images and written workers reflections as well as a professional photographic exhibition displaying the full collection of over 100 printed and framed images at Grimsby Central Hall.”
The Vikings are coming is a project by the Visitor Economy, Retail and Services Group, a private sector led partnership working with North East Lincolnshire Council to help support and grow the visitor economy, services and retail sector of NEL.
Julia Thompson, Chair of VESR, explained the project: “We want to explore the possibility of a festival to celebrate Grimsby’s Viking history. We’ll be bringing onboard a Heritage Development Producer to work with businesses and organisations to explore the potential for a new family friendly event for the town centre and put the name of ‘Grim the Viking’ back into Grimsby.”
This is the second round of grants awarded to small projects in North East Lincolnshire, with the first four covering projects like Humber sailing vessels and the history of cultural events in Cleethorpes.
Applications are still open for local projects, with a value of between £500 and £10,000, to come forward for consideration, with up to 100% of funding for projects available. Almost all the funds have been allocated, so if you have a fantastic idea, get applying for a grant. Next deadline for applications is 29 December 2021.
The ‘Heritage Starter Fund’ has been made possible with £250,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, and aims to widen audiences for heritage and to ensure that heritage plays a key role in helping communities recover from the impacts of COVID19. North East Lincolnshire was selected for a grant as an Area of Focus for The National Lottery Heritage Fund due to low heritage investment and high levels of deprivation.
To find out more about the Heritage Starter Grants, and to access the application form, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk and search for “Heritage Starter”.
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