West Horsley Place Trust – the charity established to rescue and restore Grade I listed West Horsley Place and its surrounding 380-acre estate so that they can be enjoyed by the public –has received welcome news that it has been awarded a £126,000 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Made possible by National Lottery players, the grant will support West Horsley Place: An Historic Estate without Barriers, a pioneering two-year programme of public consultation and activity that will, for the first time, enable a wide range of people from the local community to experience how heritage spaces can transform health and well-being.
By collaborating with local people who do not usually visit historic houses and working together to listen, question and explore how the buildings, landscapes and stories of West Horsley Place can inspire people from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and ages, the charity will develop an innovative and highly impactful programme of activity that meets diverse needs.
Importantly, the project will be delivered in partnership with other local charities and organisations, ensuring this funding has wide benefit. Following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon communities, there is a greater need than ever before for charities to collaborate in order to help their communities to heal.
Commenting, Peter Pearce, Director of West Horsley Place Trust, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant and are hugely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support.”
“With this funding, we now have the opportunity to ensure our programmes inspire local people of all ages and from a wide range of backgrounds. West Horsley Place will be a source of learning and inspiration, a much-needed catalyst in helping people to grow and flourish.”
“We are committed to making the historic house more inclusive and accessible for people who would usually find visiting somewhere like West Horsley Place difficult or daunting. This will be the 21st century estate. We cannot wait to work in collaboration with local people and organisations to create new activities, tell new stories and, together, make decisions about the future of West Horsley Place”.
“As we begin to recover from the impact of COVID-19, we are determined to work with local people to explore how we can support those most at need.”
Stuart McLeod, Director London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “COVID-19 and lockdown have highlighted just how important access to the natural world and our heritage spaces are for our wellbeing. We are pleased to support this project which will ensure that West Horsley Place and its stories can be enjoyed by even more people.”
For further information:
www.westhorsleyplace.org
Photo: West Horsley Place © Richard Lewisohn