Burrenbeo Trust is thrilled to announce that the latest round of the National Heritage Keepers Programme opens for applications on the 3rd of September. Over 150 groups and schools have completed the free programme to date. Heritage Keepers are now looking for community groups and senior classes of primary schools to take part in its highly anticipated fourth round.
Through a series of online workshops Heritage Keepers empowers groups and schools to delve into their local heritage and provides funding to allow them to take positive action. Rather than seeking to separate built, cultural and natural heritage the programme works on the principle that all aspects of heritage are very closely inter-linked and that these aspects work together to create our distinctive Places.
In the previous year, 70 schools and communities participated in the programme, with the majority successfully completing local funded projects and actions. These actions included exhibitions, heritage trails, tree planting, podcast creation, booklets, wildlife ponds, oral history projects and ‘Place Celebration’ days. Funding for fieldtrips is also provided meaning participants get to visit local heritage sites in person rather than just learning about them online. Previous participants have highly praised the programme with one primary school teacher commenting “Its more than just talking about helping, its actually doing something”, and another participant saying “It definitely brought us together as a group and we are delighted with what we achieved”.
Mary Dillon, Heritage Keepers Co-ordinator, emphasised the programmes mission, stating, ” By engaging schools and local groups, Heritage Keepers plays a crucial role ensuring that current and future generations understand the value of their heritage, and actively contribute to its preservation”.
Denise Charlton, Chief Executive, Community Foundation Ireland added: “Connecting people with their local place and its built, cultural and natural heritage, while facilitating positive actions for that place is key to ensuring a sustainable future for all. Engaging young people is vital, as their voices can act as motivators in the wider community. We are proud to support Burrenbeo Trust on the national Heritage Keepers Programme and look forward to seeing the incredible projects which will be undertaken across the country. I also want to acknowledge the input and support of our partner the Sunflower Charitable Foundation which makes this work possible.”
The programme consists of five engaging two-hour online workshops, followed by dedicated support while completing the funded action. It opens for expressions of interest on the 3rdth of September, with options to begin this autumn or in the New Year. For those eager to learn more about this wonderful opportunity, an online information session is scheduled for Thursday, September 12th, at 7.30pm. Visit www.heritagekeepers.ie for additional details and to complete a brief application form (submission deadline: October 12th).
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