LOTTERY FUNDING BOOSTS DRIVE TO PRESERVE BRITAIN’S INSURANCE HERITAGE

The Insurance Museum has secured a £249,700 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, marking a significant investment in the preservation and public understanding of Britain’s insurance heritage.

The funding will support a three-year initiative, Insurance Heritage at Risk, designed to research the historical development of the insurance sector while delivering a national education programme aimed at schools, families and young people. The project reflects growing recognition of the insurance industry’s economic and social role, at a time when skills shortages and public understanding remain persistent challenges for the sector.

Howard Benge, Director of the Insurance Museum, said: “The £249,700 grant from the Heritage Fund will support programmes for schools, families, and young people. These programmes will introduce insurance, explore its history, explain how it supports people today, and highlight insurance careers for children and young people.”

He added: “We are very grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for awarding us this generous grant. This is a step change for the IM. With this increase in our resources, we can lay the foundations for engaging new audiences across the UK.”

Central to the project will be an extensive review of insurance heritage collections held across public and corporate archives, alongside efforts to identify materials at risk of being lost. The programme will also fund the recording of oral histories from professionals who worked in the insurance market from the late 1960s through to the early 2000s, capturing first-hand accounts of how the industry has evolved.

In addition, the grant will enable the archiving of Dr Mary Reynolds OBE’s personal collection, documenting her career in life assurance and her wider contribution to the profession.

Delivery of the project will involve collaboration with a number of leading institutions, including the Chartered Insurance Institute, the Business Archives Council, the City of London Libraries and the Bank of England.

Stuart McLeod, Director, England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re delighted to support the Insurance Museum preserving and sharing the heritage of insurance. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will not only safeguard important collections and stories but also inspire future generations to understand the role insurance plays in our lives today.”

The Insurance Heritage at Risk programme will form part of the Insurance Museum’s wider ambition to establish a permanent public museum space within the City of London’s insurance district. Plans also include a nationwide programme of events, ranging from digital galleries and talks to guided tours and webinars.

Reg Brown, Chairman of the Insurance Museum, said: “The grant is a great honour for the insurance profession and I very much hope the whole sector will respond to the support we have received from the Heritage Fund, by also giving generously to the charity, through donations and sponsorship.”

Further information about the project, museum membership and newsletter sign-ups is available at www.insurance.museum. Details on supporting the charity through donations can be found at www.insurance.museum/slip.