Funding boost adds to success of Information Day

An information day held yesterday (26 March) for locals wanting to get involved with Seaton Jurassic attracted more than 100 people eager to find out more.  The same day the project team received the welcome news that a further £200,000 has been secured for the centre from Coastal Communities Fund.

The drop-in event at Seaton Town Hall was the second of its type to give local people an update on progress of the project and explain how local people can get involved through volunteering, fundraising or donating items as exhibits.  The newly appointed manager of Seaton Jurassic, Mike Ruiter, spoke at the event and was delighted with the response.  He said “I really enjoyed meeting so many enthusiastic local people who were all excited about the centre and eager to support us in making it a huge success. I found it encouraging that everyone understands the positive impact Seaton Jurassic will have on the town and that many people want to be a part of it”

People interested in volunteering were given an insight into the roles which range from welcoming visitors to the centre to talking about various exhibits to helping to run events plus many more.  Anyone interested who was unable to attend yesterday should email the volunteering team: volunteering@devonwildlifetrust.org.  Devon Wildlife Trust will manage the centre when it opens later this year.

This £200,000 from CCF follows an initial grant of £300,000 awarded last year for excavation works prior to building starting and will assist with the overall project costs.

Welcoming this latest funding, Richard Cohen, deputy chief executive, East Devon District Council said “Securing additional funding from Coastal Communities shows the confidence of others in our vision for Seaton Jurassic and its impact on the town. Seaton Jurassic is expected to bring around 60,000 new visitors to the town per annum which will create many new jobs in the tourism sector in Seaton and the surrounding area.”

Harry Barton, chief executive of Devon Wildlife Trust added: “I am absolutely delighted with this extra funding from the Coastal Communities Fund.  We can now be absolutely confident that the building will achieve the very high aspirations that we set out in our vision.  Construction work is roaring away and it is magical to see the project that we have planned, talked and dreamed about becoming reality in front of our eyes. This is a great moment for Seaton.”

Coastal Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “Investing in our coastal towns so they can reach their full potential is an important part of our long-term economic plan. These projects will drive forward new business opportunities, create local jobs, and boost the local economy.
The government is committed to supporting coastal communities across the country so they can become thriving year-round success stories that people are proud to work and live in.”
Also on hand at yesterday’s event was Seaton Visitor Centre Trust.  Their volunteers will be supporting the wildlife garden at Seaton Jurassic.  The Trust has campaigned for many years for the centre and is now aiming to raise £50,000 towards the garden. 

The project team is looking for artefacts that may form part of the interpretation within the centre.  A full list of the type of items is available from the website www.seatonjurassic.org.  The first donations of some Victorian books and photographs took place at yesterday’s event.