Bannockburn House Trust has received £40,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Like other local heritage attractions, Bannockburn House had to close its doors to the public in March and replace its summer events programme with virtual activities.

Secretary of the Trust, Anne Smith said: “We’re grateful that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time.  With our live events and tours on hold, this grant will help us plan our recovery and investigate other income streams. We’ll also be using it towards vital upgrading work, including installing a monitored fire protection system.”

Throughout lockdown the Trust has continued its community outreach work; from hosting weekly virtual coffee mornings and afternoon Zoom history lectures, to supplying baking packs to locals and fresh produce from its gardens to Ladies of the Rock.

Anne added: “Our doors may have been closed for the past 5 months, but we’ve been busy behind the scenes. We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to see the progress we have made with the house and grounds.”

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has made a total of £50million available to those most in need across the UK heritage sector.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Bannockburn House during this uncertain time.”

To find out more about how The National Heritage Emergency Fund is supporting the sector please visit: www.heritagefund.org.uk/responding-coronavirus-covid-19