The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (A1SLT) to receive £11,100 from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. The Government’s Culture Recovery Fund will help to off-set the A1SLT’s loss of income due to the latest lock-down and a delayed Spring main line operations by No. 60163 Tornado. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, based in Darlington, has received a grant of £11,100 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and re-start main line operations.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.  Due to the pandemic the Trust has had to adapt its main line operations that it has been able to run. Covid-19 mitigations have included capacity reductions on its main line railtours and the suspension of its twice-monthly open days at its Darlington Locomotive Works, which has resulted in a significant loss of passenger income and charitable donations. The Government’s Culture Recovery Fund will help to off-set some of the Trust’s loss of income due to the latest lock-down and a delayed Spring operations.

Tornado should soon be back on the main line, hauling trains through some of Britain's most beautiful scenery - David Horner

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said, “Our record-breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced. Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Chairman, Steve Davies MBE, added, “We are delighted to have received £11,100 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, which will inevitably plug some of the gap from the latest coronavirus lockdown. This grant means that we can now start to look ahead, plan to reopen Darlington Locomotive Works to visitors and welcome passengers back onto our main line railtours this Spring. We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the importance of our railway heritage and main line steam operations.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said, “Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work. We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.