HISTORIC Environment Scotland (HES) has marked a “milestone” spending record for grant funding.
Since 2019, the organisation has spent more than £77 million in funding grants for communities across Scotland working to uncover more of the country’s history.
Grants of up to £500,000 are available for charities, heritage organisations and community groups looking to undertake projects in archaeology, restoration and community-led initiatives.
Dr Susan O’Connor, head of grants at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Our historic environment is one of Scotland’s greatest assets, but it needs care, investment and collaboration to thrive. Through our grants programmes, we want to empower communities to unlock history, knowledge and progress.
“Over the last six years we’ve spent more than £77m to support over 350 incredible heritage projects – from local trusts to national institutions. These projects reflect the rich diversity of Scotland’s history and heritage. They also show how investment can deliver real benefits for the future – protecting communities, boosting local economies and supporting skills development.”
In the past year, the organisation has supplied £1.74m in investment for projects in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas. More than 350 organisations have benefited from HES funding, with the most awarded projects relating to places of worship, community assets, monuments, theatres and thatched and listed buildings.
HES is set to celebrate the grant’s impact by highlighting landmark projects it has supported, such as the reopening of Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre, the restoration of Linlithgow’s St Michael’s Church of Scotland and its Crown of Thorns spire and the preservation of Ellisland Farm, the first marital home of Robert Burns and Jean Armour.
Earlier this year, HES awarded a grant of £24,492 to Work of Iron, a community interest company (CIC) blacksmith forge in The Pitt, part of a cluster of community projects leading the regeneration of Edinburgh’s Granton Waterfront.
Work of Iron teaches traditional blacksmithing techniques and encourages people to explore the heritage craft at its North Edinburgh Forge.
Jack Waygood, founder and blacksmith at the firm, said: “There’s a skills shortage in traditional ironwork and we’re tackling that whilst giving people from all walks of life the chance to try their hand at blacksmithing.
“We’re really excited to launch our community projects at The Pitt in Granton, offering an accessible way for people to give it a go, and to gain an insight into the industry. We want the forge to be completely self-sufficient, and grant funding from Historic Environment Scotland is helping us kickstart that.”
