Mountain Heritage Trust awarded £198,000 National Lottery grant to safeguard climbing history

Mountaineering News
25 Jun
2 min read

The Mountain Heritage Trust has been awarded £198,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help preserve and share Britain's climbing and mountaineering heritage with wider audiences across the UK.

The grant will support a two-year project aimed at improving access to the Trust's nationally significant collections through digitisation, exhibitions, outreach programmes, volunteer development and new digital resources.

For the past 25 years, the Mountain Heritage Trust has cared for one of the UK's most important collections relating to climbing, mountaineering and exploration. Its archives contain photographs, artefacts and personal records that document more than a century of British and international mountain history.

Thanks to the new funding, the Trust will be able to make more of these collections available to the public through a programme of digitisation, interpretation and engagement. New exhibitions and displays will be developed with partner organisations, alongside learning resources, oral history projects and activities designed to reach new audiences.

The project will also explore changing mountain landscapes through environmental heritage content and aims to engage people who may not previously have connected with mountaineering history, including young people, schools and community groups.

Alongside expanding access to the collections, the funding will help strengthen the long-term sustainability of the Trust through volunteer development, partnership working and new approaches to fundraising and income generation.

Denis Pivot visits the Mountain Heritage Trust. Image credit: Mountain Heritage Trust

Julian Duxfield, Chair of the Mountain Heritage Trust, said:

"We are delighted to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to protect, share and celebrate Britain's rich mountaineering heritage with many more people across the UK. This funding will help us improve access to our collections, develop new partnerships, support volunteers and ensure these remarkable stories continue to inspire future generations."

Paul Ratcliffe, Chief Executive Officer at British Mountaineering Council (BMC), said:

"This award is a significant boost for the Mountain Heritage Trust and its vital work safeguarding the stories, achievements and legacy of British mountaineering. The Trust plays an important role in preserving this unique heritage, and this funding will help ensure that the experiences of past generations remain accessible and relevant to climbers, walkers and adventurers for years to come."

Founded in 2000, the Mountain Heritage Trust is dedicated to preserving, sharing and celebrating the heritage of climbing, mountaineering and exploration. Through its collections, exhibitions, educational work and partnerships, the charity works to ensure that the stories, achievements and culture of the mountain community remain accessible to current and future generations.

The project will commence immediately, with full delivery beginning in September following the recruitment of a Communications and Business Development Manager.

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