The Old Light Heritage Centre on North Shields Fish Quay has received a grant of £10,000 from local grant giving organisation The Sir James Knott Trust.

The funding, towards the Old Low Light’s running costs, will help the centre to cope with the financial impact of reduced visitor numbers and the ongoing cost of living crisis. This is the second grant The Old Low Light has received from The Sir James Knott Trust. The first helped us through the 2021 stages of the pandemic,

Centre Director Guy Moody said:

“In 2019, before the pandemic, we welcomed almost 63,000 visitors to the  heritage centre. This meant we generated a surplus and for the first time since we opened in 2015 we became a self sufficient community asset. Sadly the impact of the pandemic was to cut visitor numbers to just over 4,000 in 2020, which thankfully increased to over 28,000 in 2022. However, this overall reduction in numbers has impacted hugely on our ability to generate our own income.

“So the heritage centre is suffering because local people are suffering. People just don’t have as much disposable income following the pandemic and cost of living increases. However, grants like this one from the Sir James Knott Trust are a lifeline for the Old Low Light. They help us to stay afloat and at the same time give our staff and trustees time to review and adapt our business plan as we work to maintain the heritage centre for the community we support.”

The Sir James Knott Trust supports charitable activity in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Hartlepool, by making grants to organisations. Their aim is to help improve the conditions of people living and working in the North East of England.

The Trustees of the Trust try to follow the wishes and interests of the Trust’s founder where this is compatible with the present day needs of the North East.

The Trust is chaired by Ben Speke. Other Trustees are John Baker-Cresswell, Fiona Sample and Walter Riddell. The Trust is managed by Jo Curry, supported by Philippa Craig and a team of assessors.

http://www.knott-trust.co.uk/