Banner image via Maritime Belfast

The Covid Recovery Employment and Skills for Heritage (CRESI) is funding for heritage organisations to create employment opportunities for individuals who wish to enter into, or progress within, the heritage sector. It was set up by the Department for Communities (DfC) and delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). It was designed to support the sustainability of heritage organisations and assist the sector in recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.

In 2022, NIEL successfully applied for funding from CRESI for a 3-year Historic Environment Policy and Project Officer role to develop NIEL’s work within the Heritage Sector and to support the Historic Environment Division’s (HED) Historic Environment Stakeholder Group.

Armagh City Centre Heritage Visit, 22 March 2023. CREDIT: LiamMcArdle.com

The CRESI funded Historic Environment Projects and Policy Officer post allows NIEL to further develop its strong relationship with HED. The officer works on behalf of the Historic Environment Stakeholders Group undertaking a range of activities including:

• Assisting the Historic Environment Stakeholder Group who meet quarterly to discuss heritage sector matters. Meetings are held throughout Northern Ireland covering a range of heritage themes including traditional skills, equality, diversity and inclusion in the heritage sector, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Strategy and Townscape Heritage Schemes.
• Providing secretariat to two Historic Environment Stakeholder subgroups – Advocacy and Communications and Place Shaping, both set up in late 2022.
• Regular updates of the NI Heritage Delivers website with sector news, events, case studies, and more.
• Produce consultation responses on behalf of NIEL and the forum on heritage issues.
• Communicating the relevance of heritage for the NI public’s quality of life as set up in the Sector’s main advocacy document ‘Treasure the Past’

Armagh City Centre Heritage Visit, Armagh 22 March 2023. CREDIT: LiamMcArdle.com

For more information on NI’s heritage sector and the work of the Historic Environment Stakeholder and working groups visit: niheritagedelivers.org

Contact Historic Environment Policy and Project Officer