MANX LOTTERY TRUST SPARKS NEW VISITOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR RUSHEN HERITAGE TRUST
A popular heritage trust in the south of the Island has received a big boost from Manx Lottery Trust.
A grant of £25,000 has been awarded to Rushen Heritage Trust to fund a freelance Heritage Coordinator, from the Manx Lottery Trust Dormant Asset Fund. This will allow the organisation to enhance its current and future exhibitions and other projects, with an aim to build volunteer involvement and attract repeat visitors to Rushen from across the Isle of Man and beyond.
Since starting in 2014, Rushen Heritage Trust has organised eight high quality exhibitions, attracting more than 10,000 visitors and building an online following of more than 2,500. Staffed by a diverse range of volunteers, the organisation has also successfully published five books and organised a series of talks each year.
Earlier this year the Trust opened its Rushen Heritage & Visitor Centre in Bridson Street, Port Erin, and part of the grant is to help it stage six mini exhibitions at the centre each year.
Chairman of Rushen Heritage Trust, Doreen Moule, said: ‘We are so grateful to Manx Lottery Trust for its help and support and are excited to see what new opportunities this funding will bring to our team and the local community.
‘Rushen Heritage Trust is one of the very few Island Heritage Trusts with a paid Coordinator. At the outset, the founding Board decided that it was essential to have a part-time Coordinator, who works on a freelance basis. This has proven to be correct, with the role greatly contributing to the Trust's success over the years. Previously, the Coordinator role has been funded by private donors but after eight years of support that commitment is coming to an end, so it is fantastic to have this additional support secured.’
Manx Lottery Trust Chairman, Sarah Kelly, added: ‘We are pleased to offer our support to Rushen Heritage Trust which works hard to promote its local area. We hope this will help the Trust continue to provide excellent exhibitions for future visitors.’
To find out more about the Manx Lottery Trust Dormant Assets Fund, visit: www.mlt.org.im
