The £30.2m project to transform some of Hull’s maritime treasures has been given a huge boost after passing the £1m fundraising milestone.
The Hull Maritime project and the Hull Maritime Foundation, an independent charity, dedicated to supporting the ambitious plans, have secured £1m in its fundraising efforts to achieve a £2.6m target.
The funding is being used to support the delivery of the impressive plans to celebrate and preserve five key sites in Hull, as well as deliver a vast activity plan that includes training and learning opportunities, and an array of community and family activities over the coming years.
The latest funding success includes £12,000 from the Sir James Reckitt Charity which will support the delivery of a school outreach programme to raise awareness of Hull’s rich maritime history with young people across the city.
The project, funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, has already gained the backing of a number of leading companies, charitable trusts and foundations including Siemens Gamesa, The Coastal Communities Fund, DCMS Wolfson Museum and Galleries Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the John Ellerman Foundation as well as the Hull Maritime Foundation Patrons and Maritime Friends supporters groups.
Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “We very much appreciate the support we have received so far, and this £1m landmark is a great achievement especially during a global pandemic.
“We are keen to hear from people or organisations who can help us seize this incredible opportunity to create something truly special for our city, residents, the maritime community and future generations.
“Work is ongoing and we’re working tirelessly to achieve the remaining £1.6m needed to make our dreams become a reality.”
Siemens Gamesa has supported the project with the temporary berthing of the Arctic Corsair ahead of her restoration and moving to the North End Shipyard.
Port Operations Manager, James Maxwell, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to provide a temporary home for the Artic Corsair. We have vessels in and out of the port, transporting huge components to wind farms in the UK and Europe, but to moor this vessel has been a special privilege. She has overcome so much over the years and is a great reminder of Hull’s maritime history which many of our employees on the port have a strong connection with through the generations.”
David Renwick, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Investing in heritage means investing in the communities it belongs to. We are proud to support the Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project, aiming to conserve and celebrate the city’s key maritime heritage and bring it to life to contribute to the ongoing cultural renaissance of Hull, all thanks to National Lottery players.
“It’s amazing to hear that the £1m funding milestone has been achieved and we wish the Project the best of luck reaching its overall target. The Project funding will allow Hull Maritime to build on the city’s incredible legacy and sense of pride, saving Hull’s maritime heritage and ensuring the communities and places which were shaped by the city’s connection with the sea are at the heart of securing its future. The work on this heritage will also play a significant role in helping boost the local economy and the wider regeneration of Hull.”
Applications to major funders and trusts will continue to be sought.
There’s a range of ways in which people and businesses can support the project. The public can become a Maritime Friend or a Patron of the Hull Maritime Foundation and in return will receive an array of benefits, offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the project.
Businesses can also become a Corporate Partner and support the team on its mission to create one of the best maritime experiences in the UK. Visit https://maritimehull.co.uk/get-involved/support-us for more information.
Mark Adams is a Hull Maritime Foundation Patron and said: “Hull’s maritime heritage does and should continue to play a vital role in educating future generations in Hull and further afield, nationally and globally.
“Education is the key steppingstone to culture, to respect other cultures and self-respect. Only by knowing where we are and where we came from can we plot our path forward, using that knowledge as our rudder and our anchor in stormy seas.
“Therefore, I support the Hull Maritime Foundation and its work.”
Success would see the Hull Maritime project, funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, deliver exciting changes at the Grade II* Hull Maritime Museum, Dock Office Chambers, the North End Shipyard, and two historic vessels, the Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship.
