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Heritage Angel Awards receive a warm welcome in Wales

Heritage Angel Awards receive a warm welcome in Wales

Y Farwnes Kay Andrews, Cadeirydd CDL yng Nghymru
Y Farwnes Kay Andrews yn croesawu'r newyddion am Wobrau Angylion Treftadaeth yng Nghymru
Baroness Kay Andrews, Chair of HLF in Wales, and an award judge, has welcomed news that the Heritage Angel Awards, which celebrate the unsung heroes of heritage, are winging their way to Wales for the first time.

Giving Heritage Angels the halos they deserve

The scheme, announced by the Welsh Government’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Elis-Thomas AM, will recognise people who rescue historic buildings or places from neglect.

Baroness Kay Andrews, UK Trustee and Chair of HLF in Wales, said: “The Heritage Angel Awards are based on a simple idea - that those who work tirelessly, and often silently, to rescue and care for the heritage of Wales should be thanked and celebrated for the voluntary work they do.”

[quote=Baroness Kay Andrews, UK Trustee and Chair of HLF in Wales]"Those who work tirelessly... to rescue and care for the heritage of Wales should be thanked and celebrated for the voluntary work they do.”[/quote]

Examples of previous shortlists from outside Wales include a dedicated volunteer who maintains historic milestones, a group of ex-servicemen who restore canals, a stonemason who has passed his skills on to hundreds of trainees, a community group that records old chapel and churchyard gravestones, and a volunteer who has developed relaxed autism-friendly tours at his local museum.

Sponsored by the Andrew Lloyd-Webber Foundation, the ‘Heritage Angel’ winners will be announced at a special event in November.

Have your say

Anyone can nominate people and projects for the awards via the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales website. Awards will be given in five categories:

  1. ​Best Rescue of an Historic Building or Place for projects under £5m  
  2. Best Major Regeneration of an historic building or place for projects in excess of £5m
  3. Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young People
  4. Best Craftsperson or Apprentice on a Heritage Rescue or Repair Project
  5. Best Heritage Research, Interpretation or Recording

The closing date for nominations is Thursday 21 June, with the shortlist announced on Sunday 9 September.

Looking for inspiration? Why not check out our news and features pages to see some of the amazing projects that the National Lottery has helped fund in Wales?

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