Building Conservation receives Funding Boost

The Sussex Heritage Trust has received funding for young people and those looking to retrain in building conservation.  The Foyle Foundation and The Radcliffe Trust announced yesterday, Monday 31^st July, funding towards full or part-time bursaries to cover the costs of historic building conservation courses.

Courses from Oak Timber Framing to Structural Repairs of Historic Buildings and Blacksmithing are offered through West Dean College of Arts and Conservation and the Weald and Downland Living Museum.  The Sussex Heritage Trust will cover the cost of the course as well as contributing to travel and accommodation costs.

This funding offers a lifeline to help to continue to preserve and encourage traditional building crafts and skills.  In May 2023, Heritage Crafts published the ‘Red List of Endangered Crafts 2023’, which unearthed more traditional craft skills on the verge of extinction in the UK.  Many building conservation crafts, so important in preserving and conserving Sussex’s historical buildings feature, including the making and restoration of historic stained-glass windows which has recently been added to the Red List.

In addition, with generous funding from The Ian Foulerton Charitable Trust, the Sussex Heritage Trust works with Heritage Crafts to provide small grants to fund projects that support and promote endangered crafts in Sussex.  There is a maximum of £2,000 available through the Endangered Crafts Fund with the deadline for applications on Friday 6^th October 2023 at 5pm.