Sunderland Fans Museum wins nearly £100,000 National Lottery fund grant

The Sunderland Fans Museum has been awarded a nearly £100,000 grant from the National Lottery fund

Writing on their official website, the museum, funded by Michael Ganley stated: “The grant will enable us to create two full-time posts – in the Technology and Commercial fields – that will see us begin to digitise The Fans Museum’s collection, saving it for the future and transforming access, and expand our commercial offerings to help secure the Museum’s financial future.

The Fans Museums collection of sporting memorabilia is unique, and vast, reflecting the history of football, and the connectivity between sporting heritage and our communities. Without this funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund it could be lost forever and it’s stories remain unheard.

The National Lottery funded project will allow us to create two new paid roles that will see us start to digitally catalogue and record the collection for posterity, as well as expand our commercial activities which will create income streams to ensure our sustainable future.

To facilitate this, we will create a ‘digital hub’ where volunteers, social groups and schools will be able to take part in the project through digital first and training events, removing the barriers and gaps in IT skills – allowing even more people to enjoy and play a part in securing our heritage collection.

Michael Ganley said “We are thrilled to have received this FANStastic support from The National Heritage Fund that will have a huge impact on the development and sustainability of the Museum and the impact it will have on the communities in which we operate. I’d like to extend my thanks to all National Lottery players – we are truly blessed to have received their support”.