Volunteering programme receives lottery cash boost

The region is celebrating as Hull and East Yorkshire’s much-loved HEY! Volunteering Programme has been awarded £200,000 grant funding from the Heritage Innovation Fund.

The funding will be delivered over a period of two years (2024-2026) from the Heritage Innovation Fund – Growth Phase. The grants aim to support projects to explore, test and grow new ways of working across the heritage workforce.

In Hull the funding will be used to sustain and grow the volunteer Programme across Hull and East Yorkshire across five key programmes of work. These include volunteer recruitment, training and support programmes, increased engagement and communication, as well as new resources and equipment.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, Hull City Council portfolio holder for culture and leisure said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to the HEY! Volunteers team on this grant.

“The programme continues to prove incredibly popular and as a volunteer myself, I look forward to seeing how it develops and grows with this additional support.”

Councillor Nick Coultish, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism said: “HEY! Volunteering is a brilliant initiative, and after the introduction of the HEY! Brid cohort in Bridlington earlier this year, we’re looking forward to seeing this project grow even further across the region.”

Chris Blacksell, Chair of Visit Hull and East Yorkshire Advisory Board said: “The HEY! Volunteering Programme provides a warm and unique welcome to Hull and East Yorkshire, and I’m delighted that this grant will enable its benefits to be felt even wider across our wonderful region.”