Trustees' update  

Trustees have met with the Heritage Lottery Fund to review the outcome of the unsuccessful bid in December.  Once again we were told it was the case of an excellent project being squeezed out by unprecedented demand on reduced funds.  None of the seven projects from the West Midlands region were successful.

The HLF is currently reorganising as the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Birmingham will sit within a larger regional grouping embracing the former East and West Midlands and the East of England.  This will be one of a small number of ‘super regions’ that will be determining grants of up to £5 million.  The national board in London had previously approved all grants above £1 million.  Regions will also be administering new arrangements for smaller grants up to £250,000.  There will also be new strategic priorities and processes to observe.

Trustees saw opportunities in the revised arrangements that encouraged us to pursue another bid for funding.  This would involve reinforcing our work with local communities and young people.  It would also, we think, be necessary to further reduce the content of the bid to offset inflation and keep our request to an acceptable figure.  There is no prospect of an increase in the overall funds available to the NLHF and neither is there expected to be a reduction in demand.

Because the timescales are so long for a major project we are also considering an application under the scheme for smaller grants which has a simpler application process and a much quicker turnaround for decisions.  If successful, this would enable us to get underway with smaller tasks to arrest and reverse some of the deterioration that we see on the grounds of Highbury. We will also be looking at a wider range of funding sources over the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, the City Council is still pursuing a £500,000 programme of urgent repair work to the building.  This has been delayed by the requirement for bat surveys this spring before any roof repairs can be started.

So trustees expect to be as active as ever and remain committed to securing the future of the Chamberlain Heritage.

The importance of place and how does Birmingham measure up?

Free event in conjunction with The Lunar Society
27th March, 6-8.30pm at Highbury

An entertaining and stimulating Question Time-style evening will address some of the key themes and challenges for Birmingham today and focus on how the city can succeed in the 21st Century.

Sir Michael Lyons, vice chair of the Lunar Society will introduce the evening and act as question master, with the audience invited to quiz the panel comprising of:

• Deborah Cadman, OBE, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority
• Alan Chatham, CEO of Chatham Billingham Investments Ltd
• Immy Kaur, entrepreneur, co-founder of Impact Hub Birmingham
• Waheed Nazir, Birmingham City Council’s Corporate Director for Economy
• Labour councillor, Lisa Trickett (our very own CHT trustee!)

The event is free. Please book your tickets here.