News & Insight

18th March 2024

Heritage Day 2024

Last week Philanthropy Company enjoyed catching up with the heritage sector at the Heritage Alliance’s annual conference in London. We had a busy day at our stand, chatting to delegates who had travelled from across the country – it was great to touch base with past clients and present like The Mary Rose Trust, Ecclesiastical, Church of England, National Trust and The Charterhouse, and meet new faces too.  We heard about projects up and down the country to adapt historic buildings for present day use, to welcome diverse communities and new perspectives.  We were pleased to make new connections, and share examples of how we help churches, museums, and conservation charities fundraise for their
projects.

Held in the beautiful Georgian church of St John’s, Waterloo, this year’s Heritage Day theme was ‘The Power of Collaboration’, how working together with funders, communities, and volunteers, can revive listed buildings and achieve success for heritage charities of all sizes. Sustainability and solutions to the effects of climate change were hot topics. As were ways to collaborate on common ground, to unlock innovation and open up the sector – not least to young people, the next generation of heritage professionals.

We heard from Lord Parkinson, Secretary of State for Arts and Heritage, about the value of heritage skills and training; this was echoed by panellists throughout the day including Baroness Thornton, Shadow Spokesperson for Culture, Ros Kerslake, Chair of the Architectural Heritage Fund, Adala Leeson, Head of Socio Economic Analysis at Historic England, and Karis Morris-Brown, Workforce Development Manager at Black Cultural Archives. They shared valuable insights on the benefits of heritage for society, the economy, and the environment, and championed young people and diversity in the sector.

Reverend Canon Giles Goddard, vicar of St John’s, shared how collaborating with funders had enabled his listed building to be adapted for modern use.  The Grade II* church reopened in 2022 after months of fundraising and renovations –  it is now an outstanding, adaptable space for arts, events, and community projects on the Southbank; the state-of-the-art facilities work seamlessly well with the elegantly restored, light filled church. It is also now a building adapted to withstand climate change – the project saw 80 solar panels fitted on the roof, now generating substantial electricity for the nineteenth century building. This will help move St John’s towards the Church of England’s target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Working with heritage sites and conservation charities of all sizes, from St Paul’s Cathedral to Chelsea Physic Garden, from Churches Conservation Trust to Alde and Ore Estuary Trust, is something Philanthropy Company is passionate about – after an inspiring Heritage Day, we are looking forward to helping more projects get off the ground and keeping heritage alive.