Funding of £4.7 million has been granted to transform an historic building in Old Market for use by a youth homeless charity. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced over £27m funding across the UK, saving lesser known yet exceptional heritage gems across the UK.
Grade II-listed Kingsley Hall sits in Bristol’s Old Market and will be receiving funding of £4.7m. Surrounded by 60 other listed buildings, it developed from a medieval marketplace into a focal point for the city’s promotion of social change on issues including workers’ pay and conditions, women’s rights and the Suffragette movement.
The building will be renovated, giving the youth homelessness charity 1625 Independent People the opportunity to create a place of opportunity for young people developing their skills, building relationships, and strengthening their sense of identity and belonging. The announcement coincides with Heritage Treasures Day, which spotlights the diverse range of heritage projects across the UK which have been saved thanks to funding from National Lottery players over the last 30 years.
Kinglsey Hall is one of seven newly funded projects spanning the UK from Bristol to Belfast and Edinburgh to Essex, saving outstanding architecture and much-loved local buildings at significant risk. Through this investment each project will add to the cultural, musical, social and educational wellbeing of young people in their communities, providing a new lease of life for buildings and contributing positively to places across the UK.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It is wonderful to start the New Year investing in projects that are saving heritage treasures across the UK, with decades of shared memories these exceptional buildings will be repurposed for the 21st century at the centre of communities and places.
“From a monumental Victorian water tower in Colchester and an iconic architectural landmark within Edinburgh’s World Heritage site, to Kingsley Hall in Bristol’s Old Market – we are working with those who care for heritage transforming historic gems and positively adding to wellbeing and educational opportunities for young people, making heritage the focus of communities, places and the UK economy.
“Thanks to money raised from National Lottery players over the last 30 years, we have awarded £3.3bn to more than 10,300 historic building and monument projects for the long-term, helping to ensure heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”
Dom Wood DL, CEO of 1625 Independent People, said: “As we celebrate this hugely significant funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we want to acknowledge the incredible role that young people have played in shaping our project. Their active engagement and expertise lie at the heart of our Kingsley Hall Heritage Project.
“We’re thrilled to transform our historic home into a vibrant community space, offering hope and opportunities for some of the region’s most vulnerable young people. With welcoming, safe spaces, vital new training facilities and new homes, our project will support young people to re-engage with education, access training and employment and build on their strengths.
“The social history of Kingsley Hall resonates with the young people we support, and Kingsley Hall will stand as a foundation for young people to create brighter futures for themselves and their communities.”