Heritage Inspired
Rotherham Churches Tourism Initiative has ceased after eight years. The new project is called Heritage Inspired.
"As you are probably aware Rotherham Churches Tourism Initiative has now come to an end. We had a wonderfully successful 8 years in Rotherham, welcoming over 50,000 visitors to our fine ecclesiastical buildings in the last three years alone. We trained over 300 volunteers and were involved in many events and activities at our partner buildings. We surpassed all our targets, and became a national leader in the field of church tourism (often used as an example of best practice and brought in to help set up similar projects across the UK.
I am writing to you to introduce a new project, working in a similar vein to RCTI.
HERITAGE INSPIRED works with all listed and other historic faith, and related, buildings across South Yorkshire. We will help them to understand, interpret, present and promote all aspects of their heritage, including architectural, social and cultural. We will help them organise events to celebrate, and increase access to and awareness of, their heritage. We will encourage buildings to open to the public as much as possible, and will produce publicity materials to attract local people, ‘tourists’, and schools. We will recruit and train local volunteers as tour guides and welcomers. We will increase access to our local history and heritage through a series of local heritage courses and talks, designed to increase appreciation of our fine faith buildings and giving visitors the knowledge to get more out of their visit.
We currently have funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for work in Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield. We are applying for funding for some continuing support work in Rotherham.
I am sure that we will be in touch soon re; specific events and activities, and look forward to working with you over the coming years."
Visit the website www.heritageinspired.org.uk.
Or NEW website www.southyorksheritageopendays.org.uk for for a leaflet detailing all church opening times or contact Heritage Inspired on 0845 652 9634.