Manx Lottery Trust helps Manx Wildlife Trust

One Island trust has helped another to get back up and running following the Covid-19 lockdown.

A grant of just under £8,000 from the Manx Lottery Trust has been helping the Manx Wildlife Trust which was forced to shut its gift shop in Peel and both visitor centres at the Ayres and Scarlett during the toughest local restrictions earlier this year.

Due to its shop and visitor centres being manned almost entirely by volunteers considered high risk in terms of Coronavirus, the charity wasn't able to open once lockdown lifted and so applied to MLT for the financial support.

The funds were partly used to bring on part-time Communications Co-ordinator, Rachael Harrop, who took on a series of responsibilities to help keep operations running whilst allowing other volunteers to begin a phased return.

MWT CEO, Leigh Morris, says they're 'beyond grateful' to the lottery trust for the assistance, adding: "Our visitor centres are important community engagement hubs, particularly for the team of volunteers who run them and get a huge amount of enjoyment from them. 

"It was so important that we put their wellbeing first and provided cover, support and a phased system for all to return to work, while at the same time opening up to the public too."