The charity which runs the Allen Gallery and Curtis Museum in Alton has received almost £250,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A grant of £249,910 was given to the Hampshire Cultural Trust to continue developing its volunteering programme.

This is the third round of funding the trust has received through the Heritage Innovation Fund.

During the first two phases, funded with £25,000 and £75,000 respectively, the trust explored how to attract volunteers post-Covid and expand its volunteering programme.

The trust has more than 400 volunteers who undertake a variety of roles at its 22 attractions, museums, galleries and arts centres across the county, ranging from welcoming visitors to maintaining gardens and caring for historical collections.

The final phase of volunteering development will start early this year and last for two years. The overall aim will be to continue to improve the volunteering experience with the trust.

Anne Horn, the trust’s director of people, said: “We have an absolutely fantastic team of talented, passionate and dedicated volunteers at Hampshire Cultural Trust who support our work in so many ways.

“But we recognise that there is so much more that we can offer to people who want to volunteer with us and, thanks to National Lottery players and the Heritage Innovation Fund, we will now be able to develop roles that fit round people’s working lives, increase the number of young people who volunteer with us and help people develop those key skills they need to get into work.”

George Stanley-Jones, head of partnerships and innovation for The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Volunteers are a crucial part of the heritage workforce and play a key role in connecting heritage organisations to communities. We are delighted to support this fantastic project through the Grow Phase of our Heritage Innovation Fund.”