LEGACY OF SOPHIA GOULDEN TO BE RECOGNISED THANKS TO MANX LOTTERY TRUST SUPPORT

A grant from the Manx Lottery Trust will help enhance an organisation’s bid to raise awareness of Manx activist Sophia Goulden.

The Friends of Sophia Goulden has been awarded a grant of £4,000 which will be used to purchase exhibition screens and a digital display media unit.

The group visits schools and institutions across the island raising awareness of Sophia Goulden, who not only was born and buried on the Isle of Man but was also the mother and inspiration of Emmeline Pankhurst. She activated against slavery, fought for the repeal of the Corn Laws and was an ardent supporter of emancipation.

A maquette of Sophia was recently purchased and will be displayed to potential subscribers and sponsors during speaking engagements. As the maquette is quite fragile, a protective case will be used when transporting it around the island, so that it won’t be damaged. The organisation will use the new screens and digital display unit to present a series of customised educational videos.

Joseph Owens, Deputy Chairman, said: ‘As a charity, our aim is to spread awareness of Sophia and highlight the social change she campaigned for all those years ago. This grant means we can continue to educate the public of her legacy, and with the maquette and display materials, we will be able to do this efficiently anywhere on the island.

‘We also hope the progression and improvement of our presentations will aid future fundraising so we can purchase a full-size statue of Sophia. We are incredibly grateful to the Manx Lottery Trust for supporting us with this grant.’

Stephen Turner, Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, said: ‘The talks which The Friends of Sophia Goulden provide are very important in educating the local community on how Sophia was a key figure in Manx history, so we are pleased to be able to support them and hope they continue to succeed.’

This grant is from Manx Lottery Trust’s Community Awards Programme. Manx Lottery Trust has been delegated to distribute National Lottery money from The National Lottery Community Fund. To find out more, visit: www.mlt.org.im