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Jun 2020

Last Updated: 02/07/2020

Ripon Museum Trust receives £40,000 Lottery boost

by Tim Flanagan

| 29 Jun, 2020

Three of Ripon's principal visitor attractions have been given a lifeline, thanks to emergency funding awarded to the city's Museum Trust from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

ripon-27th-june-2020-ripon-courthouse-museum

Ripon Courthouse Museum, where the Trial of John Sinkler will be re-enacted

Ripon Museum Trust has received £40,100 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to safeguard its heritage buildings and provide much-needed support for essential costs during the coronavirus crisis.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown began, Ripon Museum Trust has been without the visitors, volunteers and staff essential to the upkeep of the three museums – The Workhouse Museum & Garden, The Courthouse Museum and the Prison & Police Museum.

Museum Trust Ripon

Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust said:

“Thanks to the National Lottery and its players we are in a much stronger position to emerge the other side of the pandemic with the strength to welcome visitors again and to reach out to our audiences. We’re grateful that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time – it’s a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all.”

The emergency funding has come from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has made £50 million available to assist those most in need across the heritage sector.

The UK-wide fund will address both immediate emergency actions and help organisations to start thinking about recovery.

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis."

She added:

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Ripon Museum Trust during this uncertain time.”

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Like Ripon Museum Trust, other charities and organisations across the UK that have been affected by the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus outbreak are being given access to a comprehensive package of support of up to £600 million of repurposed money from The National Lottery. This money is supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and spans the arts, community, charity, heritage, education, environment and sports sectors.

Through National Lottery players, £30 million is raised every week for good causes, including heritage of local and national importance.

Museum buildings across the Harrogate district remain closed, but at the weekend Ripon Workhouse Museum launched the 'Inside Out Museum Trail' which will see its Front Garden, Master's Garden and Victorian Kitchen Garden open to the public on selected days in June and July. Places on the trail are limited to ensure social distancing is maintained and booking is via the Museum Trust's website.

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Ripon Museum Trust receives £40,000 Lottery boost

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