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Ulster Wildlife Trust to receive £400,000 for conservation skills training

Heritage Lottery Fund of Collections training at Ipswich Museum
Heritage Lottery Fund of Collections training at Ipswich Museum Heritage Lottery Fund of Collections training at Ipswich Museum

THE Ulster Wildlife Trust is to receive more than £400,000 to train young people in natural conservation skills.

Over the course of a three-year programme, 21 people will be trained in both marine and land-based conservation and heritage.

Recruitment will prioritise those aged under 24, those from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.

It is part of more than £10 million in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund being shared between 18 projects across Britain and Northern Ireland.

The training schemes will range from dry stone walling to rigging and repairing traditional wooden sailing ships.

Peter Luff, chairman of the HLF, said: "The heritage sector has been slow in widening the profile of its work force and as a consequence is on a long-term learning curve.

"We wanted to build on the legacy of our existing targeted skills funding – £47 million to date – and make a further financial commitment of just over £10 million."

The funding is part of a wider commitment in the British Government's culture white paper to address skill shortages in heritage.

British heritage minister Tracey Crouch said: "Investing in new heritage talent will ensure we build a more sustainable sector, protect our treasured history and continue to attract visitors from across the globe.

"I'm delighted to see money raised by National Lottery players being used to train and develop people's skills and deliver on our promise in the culture white paper."