Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage (RSH) has been awarded over a quarter of a million pounds from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to extend its capacity building programme.

The initiative developed to help Scotland’s heritage sector develop long-term financial security will now run for four years instead of three. RSH has been granted a further £225,100 of funding to continue delivering sector specific training until the end of March 2018. The funding announcement comes as RSH reaches its target of delivering training to 450 people within the heritage sector over a year ahead of schedule.

RSH Project Manager Louise Downing said: “Being able to extend Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage for a fourth year is fantastic and we’re thrilled the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded additional funding enabling us to grow the programme and built on its success.

“The first two years have gone extremely well, exceeding all expectations. Meeting our original target of delivering training to 450 individuals within three years, a year ahead of schedule, is testament to the demand from within the heritage sector for the expertise RSH can share.”

RSH is a sector-wide partnership led by Arts & Business Scotland with Archaeology Scotland, Built Environment Forum Scotland, greenspace Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland. It was launched in June 2014, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Catalyst scheme enabling it to deliver a programme of accessible training courses, inspirational expert led events, networking opportunities and develop online information and resources.

The additional funding will allow for the continuation of the successful fundraising training and capacity building programme which will include new elements such as the creation of an online digital publication and networking events for trustees of heritage groups and organisations.

To date RSH has delivered 59 training events to 458 people from 325 heritage groups and organisations.