Feature
Andrew’s story Young people engaged. Photo: Mark Hamblin-2020VISION
In 2012 we were privileged to receive a substantial legacy from Andrew Holliday. Over the last seven years, this generous giſt has provided vital support for some of our most important conservation work during some difficult economic times. Here, Helen Duxbury reflects on what a major impact the giſt has had in benefiting wildlife in Cumbria, and how Andrew’s legacy will live on for many years to come.
Andrew Holliday had been a member of Cumbria Wildlife Trust for just a few years when we were notified of his death and the giſt he had generously leſt in his Will. We knew very litle about Andrew and he had no close relatives that we were aware of. The giſt totalled £320,000 and, as with any giſt we receive in a Will, we wanted it have to the greatest impact on wildlife.
This is the story of Andrew’s giſt; how we used it and what it has done for wildlife.
A new fund working for wildlife
On receipt of the legacy, we set up a new fund: The Andrew Holliday Fund. This ‘defined purpose fund’ ensured that money would only be allocated to the conservation priorities according to Andrew’s express wishes. It is vitally important to the Trust that we fulfil donor’s wishes and it is the key principle behind which we use all legacy giſts.
8 Cumbrian Wildlife M ary 2019 | Janauy 2019
The Andrew Holliday Fund has been working to deliver these wishes ever since. As appropriate projects emerge, funds have been drawn down to make them a reality. A significant amount of new additional funding has been secured for conservation because the Trust has used these funds carefully and wisely – oſten as match funding alongside other funds to make the resources stretch further. Here are some of the examples of how we’ve made the fund work hard for wildlife and people:
Life-changing opportunities, placements and apprentices
Around the time of Andrew’s giſt, the Trust was starting to look at how we could develop the much-needed skills and knowledge of a new generation of conservationists. One of the key ways we achieve this is by providing placement opportunities and apprenticeships for young people.
Andrew’s giſt provided match funding for 24 young people to complete a unique marine placement which would otherwise have not been possible. An additional three individuals have completed full two-year conservation apprenticeships. All of these young people have moved into employment or further education in conservation, which is a 100% success rate and ensures that Andrew’s giſt will live on. We’re very proud of their achievements!
From small acorns grow mighty oaks.
One of the challenges in securing new income for conservation is that of pulling together the evidence to justify new ideas and new projects. We may know that something is worth doing but we have to persuade others before they’ll invest so that our ideas can flourish and become much bigger. This has been another area in which Andrew’s legacy has made a big difference.
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