The Old Light Heritage Centre on North Shields Fish Quay has received emergency financial support of up to £33,300 from the Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage.

The funding – towards the Old Low Light’s running costs for the first three months of 2022 will safeguard the centre’s short-term future.

Centre director Guy Moody welcomed the government funding: “We are very grateful for this emergency support. It is a relief to know that in the short-term, at least, we can continue to open.

“Before the pandemic we were in a stable financial position but despite grants over the past two years and some generous donations from the public, like similar organisations, we have been losing money month on month.

“Following the lifting of restrictions, we have done some engagement with the public and now that we have this funding to help pay our bills up to the end of March 2022, we can proceed with our plans to return to operating more like we were used to before Covid-19. Hopefully we will see more people visiting our café and galleries and taking part in our events and activities in the coming weeks and months.”

The money is emergency resource support from the Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage. It is being distributed by the National Heritage Memorial Fund in partnership with Historic England, based on criteria set by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The programme was set up to safeguard cultural and heritage organisations across England from the economic impact of Covid-19.

Guy Moody added: “This support is very welcome and gives us some breathing space but our focus in the months ahead must be on doing whatever we can to build up reserves and secure the long-term future of the heritage centre.”