The National Trust reaches £2.7 million target to save The Procession to Calvary

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:29:21 GMT

The National Trust, the Art Fund and National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) are delighted to announce that Pieter Brueghel the Younger's 'The Procession to Calvary' has been saved for the nation after an intensive three month fundraising campaign.

The £2.72 million total was announced with the news of the NHMF grant of £1,034,000. Along with the Art Fund's £500,000 grant that kick started the appeal, over £680,000 from members of the public - many of whom were Art Fund and National Trust members - and nearly £510,000 from trusts and foundations, 'The Procession to Calvary' can now be kept on public display at Nostell Priory in West Yorkshire.

In September, the Art Fund and the National Trust launched a joint fundraising appeal to save 'The Procession to Calvary'. The painting is the star attraction at Nostell Priory, owned by the National Trust since 1954, where it has hung for over 200 years. The painting was put up for sale by its owner, Lord St Oswald, with the risk of being lost from public view.

Completed in 1602, and amongst Brueghel the Younger's finest works, 'The Procession to Calvary' shows Christ carrying the cross on the way to his crucifixion. He is surrounded by over two hundred figures in a vibrant narrative, set in a contemporary Flemish landscape.

Dr Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: "We have been bowled over by the support and enthusiasm of the public for this quite extraordinary painting, helping us to reach the £2.7 million target. Considering the economic climate, this has been a hugely challenging campaign and we are enormously grateful to all our members and supporters who have given so generously."

Dame Fiona Reynolds, director-general of the National Trust, commented: "This is wonderful news and a marvellous start to the new year with the knowledge that Nostell Priory's star attraction will stay where it belongs and continue to be enjoyed by visitors. We want to thank everyone who has supported this campaign to save 'The Procession to Calvary', especially the National Heritage Memorial Fund for enabling us to reach our target. And our special thanks go to the Art Fund for their generous donation that kick-started the campaign and who have worked tirelessly with us throughout the last three months to secure the future of this wonderful painting."

Dame Jenny Abramsky, chair of the NHMF, added: "The overwhelming public support to help secure this stunning painting has been an inspiration. Individual donations combined with on-going support from government funds such as the National Heritage Memorial Fund, will play an increasingly important role in securing our most precious heritage."

The Art Fund and the National Trust would like to thank the National Gallery and York Art Gallery for their support throughout the campaign in enabling the public to view the work in their spaces.

The painting will return to Nostell Priory and be on display from the end of February 2011, when the house opens once again to the public.

About the National Trust:
The National Trust cares for 300 inspiring historic houses and gardens across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From former workers' cottages to the most iconic stately homes, and from mines and mills to theatres and inns, the stories of people and their heritage are at the heart of everything it does. People of all ages, individuals, schools and communities, get involved each year with its projects, events and working holidays and 61,000 volunteers help to bring the properties alive for the millions of people who visit our places each year.

The National Trust offers a number of activities such as cycle paths, rainy day fun, walks, days out in Yorkshire and historic gardens.

The National Trust scoops award for best use of social media

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:24:09 GMT

The National Trust has announced its success at the 2010 Recruitment Business Awards, winning the award for best use of social media.

The National Trust's recruitment team had started searching for a new addition to their digital media team but their approach was not achieving the desired results. The team, along with their advertising partner ThirtyThree, hit on the idea of using a microsite dedicated to this vacancy.

The National Trust used this platform to share all the information that is usually seen in a traditional job advert. However, this was just one element as there were lots of added extras including information on the National Trust's commitment to digital investment, online access to its digital testing labs and a short film portraying the uniqueness of the National Trust's state-of-the-art office. The site, www.hungryfordigitalchange.co.uk, was then pushed out to the digital community.

Jenny Rettie, National Trust Recruitment Manager, said: "We're so proud of this innovative recruitment campaign and think it shows that the National Trust is changing and we're starting to shift perceptions of what it's really like to work here.

"It's all part of our move to engage with people in a variety of new and exciting ways. Latest research shows that 76 per cent of leaders hadn't ever thought of us as an employer, so getting our name out there as an employer by winning awards and competing with other large employer brands is great."

The annual Recruitment Business Awards ceremony, in association with The Daily Telegraph, took place at the Ramada Manchester Piccadilly at the end of September and was attended by recruitment consultancies and creative agencies that were nominated for an award as well as suppliers to the industry.

About the National Trust:
The National Trust is a charity with a love for preserving historic places and spaces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From former workers' cottages to the most iconic stately homes, and from mines and mills to theatres and inns, the stories of people and their heritage are at the heart of everything it does. The National Trust also offers days out in England, cycle rides UK, days out in Wales and volunteer holidays.

People of all ages, individuals, schools and communities, get involved each year with projects, events and working holidays and over 61,000 volunteers help to bring National Trust places alive for our 3.8 million members. Interested parties can find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

The National Trust is a registered charity no. 205846. Our registered office is Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 2NA.

Team Sky to help save one billion trees in the Amazon

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:31:02 GMT

For the first time ever, riders competing in The Tour of Britain for Team Sky will be raising awareness of deforestation in the Amazon by wearing a Sky Rainforest Rescue inspired kit. The tour kicks off in Rochdale on Saturday 11th September and ends in London the following weekend.

Sky Rainforest Rescue is a three year campaign between Sky and WWF to help save a billion trees in the state of Acre, northwest Brazil. Deforestation is now responsible for roughly 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions and an area the size of three football pitches is destroyed every minute in the Amazon rainforest.

Richard Harris, WWF’s Fundraising Project Manager said: “The more people that know about the work we are carrying out in the Amazon rainforest to improve people’s lives and protect the amazing species and habitat, the more likely they are to support the cause. We are delighted that Team Sky have decided to support Sky Rainforest Rescue."

Team Sky riders will be sporting Sky Rainforest Rescue branded jerseys, glasses, helmets, water bottles, saddles and bikes as they travel across the country competing in this exciting road race.

Riders competing for Team Sky include Steve Cummings, Russell Downing, Mathew Hayman, Greg Henderson, Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins.

Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins commented: "Wearing this unique Sky Rainforest Rescue kit during the Tour of Britain is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness for a really important issue and help reach the target of raising £4 million* to save 1 billion trees in the Amazon."

Sky Rainforest Rescue offers a number of ways for people to help Sky and WWF tackle deforestation; for just £3 a month you can sponsor an acre of rainforest or adopt a jaguar, and a donation of £20 will help save 1000 tress.

Notes to editors:
*All money raised through Sky Rainforest Rescue will be donated to WWF-UK, charity registered in England and Wales number 1081247 and in Scotland number SC039593. Sky will donate a further £1 to WWF-UK to match each £1 raised through Sky Rainforest Rescue, and has guaranteed to contribute a total of £2,000,000.

About Team Sky:
Sky is the principal partner of British Cycling at both an elite level, supporting elite riders and Team Sky, and a grass-roots level by making cycling fun and accessible for everyone. Sky aims to inspire the next generation of cycling heroes with Team Sky and hopes to win the Tour de France, clean, with a British rider within five years, whilst getting one million more people cycling regularly by 2013.

National Trust relieves bank holiday getaway stress

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:01:53 GMT

The National Trust is joining the drive to make the August bank holiday journeys less painful by setting up its own unique network of alternative ‘motorway service areas’.

The Bank Holiday is traditionally one of the busiest weekends for holiday traffic. According to the Highways Agency Friday evening, Saturday lunchtime and Monday afternoon are expected to be the busiest on the roads this weekend, especially on the main holiday routes, as people set out and return from short breaks or day trips.

Mark Harold, National Trust Director for the South West, explained: “This weekend many holiday makers will make the journey to the South West heading for the beautiful coast and countryside, and with Britain’s roads taking the brunt of the holiday traffic we’re encouraging people to plan around the congestion to make the journey an enjoyable part of the holiday.”

Instead of a hurried burger and loo break at a motorway service area, the National Trust has identified 30 of its places to visit which are conveniently located only a few miles from motorway junctions and A-roads.

These bank holiday places to visit, which include built properties and countryside locations, can provide a more relaxing break with plenty of space to park, picnic, take a quick countryside walk with the dog and enjoy some local, seasonal food during the holiday getaway.

Ideas include Killerton, an 18-century house with a choice of two tea-rooms, and picnic areas in its beautiful gardens and parkland, just seven miles from Junction 28 of the M5- a stretch of motorway that is expected to see more than 3,500 vehicles an hour heading for the West Country at peak times. Other suggestions include Stourhead, a magnificent landscaped garden and mansion just 2½ miles off the A303.

The National Trust initiative ties in with the - Don’t just drive, Discover - campaign launched by the Highways Agency for the summer holidays. The Agency, which manages England’s network of motorways and major A-roads, has been urging families to plan their journeys as much as they plan their holidays and take breaks to avoid tiring and stressful drives.

"In contrast to the daily commute, the holiday getaway is made up of longer, often unfamiliar journeys,” said Steve Crosthwaite, head of the Highways Agency's National Traffic Control Centre.

"The desire to arrive by a certain time, together with all the expectation that has built up over many months and a long journey ahead, mean the stress factors can be greater. No-one wants a bad start to their summer holiday, so we're encouraging drivers to help themselves to avoid delays where they can."

The full list highlighting the major holiday routes is available on the National Trust website.

-ends-

About The National Trust:
The National Trust cares for 300 inspiring historic houses and gardens across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From former workers' cottages to the most iconic stately homes, and from mines and mills to theatres and inns, the stories of people and their heritage are at the heart of everything it does. People of all ages, individuals, schools and communities, get involved each year with its projects, events and working holidays and over

Top Articles Tagged with non-profit

The National Trust reaches £2.7 million target to save The Procession to Calvary

The National Trust scoops award for best use of social media

Team Sky to help save one billion trees in the Amazon

National Trust relieves bank holiday getaway stress