# Foundation commits £29mn to heritage skills training in largest ever pledge to cause - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/08/10/foundation-commits-29mn-to-heritage-skills-training-in-largest-ever-pledge-to-cause/ - Published: 2023-08-10T09:49:44+01:00 - Author: Melanie May **The Hamish Ogston Foundation has announced nearly £29 million in funding to heritage skills training in the UK and around the Commonwealth – marking the largest private commitment to the cause in history.** The funding is being shared between four organisations: [English Heritage](https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/), [Historic Environment Scotland](https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/), [Commonwealth Heritage Forum](https://www.commonwealthheritage.org/) and [Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship](https://cwfcathedrals.co.uk/), and will support a range of training, from hands-on practical craft skills to strategy building, administration and financial planning for projects to preserve and protect historic buildings around the world. * [**More on English Heritage’s funding from the Hamish Ogston Foundation**](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/08/10/english-heritage-to-launch-apprenticeship-programme-after-largest-ever-donation-of-11mn/) Up to 2,700 heritage conservation apprentices and trainees will be financed by the grants, with 19 Commonwealth nations across five continents receiving funding, from Fiji and Bermuda to Pakistan and Ghana. ## Advertisement Under the instruction of heritage conservation experts, the trainees will learn the centuries-old techniques required to maintain and repair historic buildings across these nations including stonemasonry, carpentry, joinery and flint knapping. ## Buildings to benefit from the funding The buildings include England’s Canterbury Cathedral and Bury St Edmunds Abbey Church Ruins and Abbey Gate, the Herbarium at the Botanic Gardens in Kolkata, India, and New Zealand’s Christchurch Cathedral. ## Heritage funding awarded The funding pledged breaks down as: * **£11.2 million** to **English Heritage** for the establishment of The Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Craft Skills Resilience Programme * **£5.2 million** to **Historic Environment Scotland** for the establishment of the Craft Your Career programme * **£11.5 million** to the **Commonwealth Heritage Forum** for Phase 2 of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme * **£535,000** to the **Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship** for Phase 5 of The Hamish Ogston Foundation Craft Training Programme The 2,700 apprentices and trainees will learn specialist heritage conservation skills including: * stonemasonry * carpentry & joinery * flint knapping * painting * plastering * roofing. Additionally, some trainees will receive business training and learn how to create financially sustainable historic places for the general public to visit and enjoy. ![New stone being added to a property under the care of English Heritage. Photo: English Heritage.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2023/08/new-stone-being- added-credit-english-heritage.jpg) New stone being added to a property under the care of English Heritage. Photo: English Heritage. ![St Botolphs Priory (Colchester) from south east corner boundary. Photo: English Heritage](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2023/08/English-Heritages-St-Botolphs- Priory-Colchester-Essex.-View-from-south-east-corner-boundary.-Credit_-English-Heritage. jpg) St Botolphs Priory (Colchester) from south east corner boundary. Photo: English Heritage A total of **£43 million** has now been committed by the [Hamish Ogston Foundation](https://www.hamishogstonfoundation.org/) to heritage skills training,** **which is financing the training of up to 3,300 heritage conservation apprentices and trainees globally. By funding heritage initiatives, it is Hamish Ogston’s goal to create financial sustainability in the heritage conservation sector, encouraging others to join the movement to protect historic buildings around the world for the enjoyment, benefit and appreciation of generations to come. Commenting, Hamish Ogston, CBE, Founder of the Hamish Ogston Foundation said:  > **“**A sustainable, future-facing ecosystem of heritage conservation expertise > is what is needed to solve the chronic skills shortages and gaps in the heritage > sector, and to ensure the survival of some of the greatest historic buildings > around the world. >   > “With this new funding, we hope to establish such an ecosystem, so that more young > people, no matter who they are or where they come from, can access the unique > opportunity of a career in heritage conservation through one of our skills training > programmes. We aim to inspire the industry and to establish a coherent and accessible > training infrastructure for those looking to learn skills in heritage conservation.” * **[Grants still available for Jubilee-related events and other funding news](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/06/17/grants-still-available-for-jubilee-related-events-other-funding-news/)( 17 June 2022)** * **[Grow your church’s income – a guide to securing long-term financail health](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/04/07/grow-your-churchs-income-a-guide-to-securing-long-term-financial-health/)( book)** * **[£40 million fund launches for at-risk heritage assets](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/07/02/40m-fund-launches-for-at-risk-heritage-assets/)( 2 July 2021)** ## Comments ### By: HowardLake - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/08/10/foundation-commits-29mn-to-heritage-skills-training-in-largest-ever-pledge-to-cause/#comment-4550 - Published: 2023-10-09T04:47:25+01:00 Just weeks after our article above came this: Charities review millions from trust as chair accused of ‘sex worker immigration scandal’ [https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/charities-review-millions-from-trust-as-chair-accused-of-sex-worker-immigration-scandal.html](https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/charities-review-millions-from-trust-as-chair-accused-of-sex-worker-immigration-scandal.html) Civil Society Media reported: “Charities that have received millions in funding from the Hamish Ogston Foundation are seeking advice on their donations as allegations about its chair and founder are reviewed by police. “The Sunday Times published allegations regarding millionaire Hamish Ogston, which include human trafficking, sexual exploitation and drug offences. It alleged that Ogston suggested trafficking women either for his private office or the Hamish Ogston Foundation.”