A crucial grant of £815,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will enable the first floor of the museum to be re-developed, creating new learning facilities and events spaces as well as providing improved collections storage and exhibitions.

As part of the project, the Fusilier Museum will need to secure match funding of around £600,000. The museum is about to launch a major fundraising campaign to raise the money and will be asking for support from industry organisations, local businesses as well as the general public. The build is due to start in January 2014 and is expected to be completed by September of the same year.

By creating new and improved exhibition and learning space, the museum will be able to offer a more varied educational programme and reach out to a diverse range of audiences, including young people, families and people from ethnic minorities, reflecting the vibrant population and history of Bury. Workshops for schools, collection-based activities and family history research weekends are just some of the events and activities that will be on offer.

The current number of volunteers will be doubled and a comprehensive training programme will be available. Roles will include family learning volunteer, digital projects volunteer and volunteer guides.

Colonel Brian Gorski MBE and Chairman of The Fusilier Museum, said: “We are delighted to announce our funding bid for the Onwards and Upwards project has been successful and myself and the team are all looking forward to working on the project. We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding the project and making our plans a reality. This development will enable the general public to look behind the scenes at our extensive collection as well as create a new, innovative space to accommodate events.”

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “Today’s HLF investment marks an important final step for the Fusiliers Museum in Bury. Restoring the first floor of the museum will complement HLF’s previous £1.8m grant - which enabled the collections to be relocated to the current building - and create vibrant and engaging learning and exhibitions spaces. This means the museum will be better able to tell the important stories of the local men and woman who contributed and served in conflicts, including the First World War, over the last 300 years.

“We have awarded a total of £8.7m to heritage projects in Bury and believe that this scheme will greatly add to Bury’s already excellent heritage-based tourist offer.”

The Fusilier Museum in Bury, Lancashire, is home to the collections of The Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Documenting over 300 years of history and heritage through permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum tells the rich and fascinating stories of the people who have served and continue to service in the regiments.

The museum opened in summer 2009 in Bury’s designated Cultural Quarter after a £4.1million development project. This project was delivered by the board of directors of the charitable company, which was established for and now manages the museum. The company has a lease from Bury Council – which has been an active partner throughout – for 125 years.

The museum as it is now benefited from a complex funding mix which included: a £2million contribution from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £380,000 from the North West Development Agency. Funding was also contributed by the European Regional Development Fund, by Bury Council, by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, from landfill tax, from a range of charitable trusts, by local, regional and national business sponsorship and by individual donors and public subscription.

The Fusilier Museum has excelled in its first three years of operation in moving from a former visitor profile of less than 2,000 people each year to having over 20,000 paying customers each year, as well as attracting thousands of people to Bury’s Cultural Quarter. The Fusilier Museum is now a fully accredited museum, being one of only four museums nationally – and the only military museum – to have successfully achieved ‘Developed Accreditation’.

Further information

The Fusilier Museum: Helen Field on 0161 763 8950, email: helen.field@fusiliermuseum.com.

HLF press office: Laura Bates on 020 7591 6027, email: lbates@hlf.org.uk.