Award-winning developer, Hopkins Homes is inviting communities across East Anglia to apply for funding from its latest £10,000 donation to War Memorials Trust.
Hopkins Homes offers a £10,000 per year fund to support communities and parishes seeking to repair and conserve their memorials. Since it was launched in 2017, conservation projects around the region have received grants of up to £3,000.
There are approximately 3,000 war memorials in East Anglia. From magnificent town memorials to simple airfield plaques, the region is dotted with reminders of its historical military connections.
Whilst many are well cared for, recent research on War Memorials Online; a website which aims to record the condition of all war memorials in the UK, shows that 140 of East Anglia’s memorials may need repair or conservation work to preserve this vital link to the area’s history.
Joshua Hopkins of the Hopkins Charitable Fund – a scheme run by Hopkins Homes – said: “We’re so proud to be renewing our £10,000 East Anglian War Memorials Fund which helps preserve these important touchstones in our communities.”
The war memorials fund is just one of the initiatives the developer has committed to in support of communities. In 2020, it partnered with the Plunkett Foundation to set up the Hopkins Plunkett Communities Scheme. The scheme provides essential advice, support and small grants to community-run shops and pubs across East Anglia as they adjust to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Joshua continues: “In 2020, our focus was on helping vital local businesses cope with the short- and long-term impact of the pandemic so they can thrive for future generations. Now, as we edge back towards normalcy it’s incredibly important to us that we also continue to honour the memories of the generations that came before and their sacrifices, by helping communities preserve their memorials.
“The fund is managed by War Memorials Trust in line with best conservation practice. Anyone wanting advice on a conservation project or to apply for funding for a memorial in East Anglia please do get in touch with the Trust.”
Frances Moreton, Director of War Memorials Trust said: “We’re delighted with Hopkins Homes’ generous donation to support repair and conservation works in-line with best conservation practice. This funding will help sustain East Anglia’s war memorials in the best possible condition to pay tribute to those impacted by conflict.
“So far, the grants have helped conserve memorials in, amongst others, Huntingdon and Walsoken in Cambridgeshire; Sudbury, Beccles and Brandeston in Suffolk and Hanworth and Beeston next Mileham in Norfolk.
“We encourage everyone to visit their local war memorial, check the condition of it and get in touch with War Memorials Trust if they have any concerns. We may be able to assist your project with a grant if works are needed.”
East Anglian communities hoping to receive funding towards their war memorial projects, including potentially benefitting from the funds allocated by Hopkins Homes, should visit War Memorials Trust’s website www.warmemorials.org/grants.
To find out more about Hopkins Homes and the Hopkins Charitable Fund, visit: www.hopkinshomes.co.uk