A FUNDING boost has helped save the Scottish Seabird Centre, says the charity’s CEO.

Just two months into the centre’s urgent appeal for public aid to save it from permanent closure, it has received £50,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund.

It was hoped the appeal, launched in May, would raise £200,000.

About half of that amount has been raised through donations so far.

Susan Davies, CEO of the Seabird Centre, which is based in North Berwick, described its future as “perilous” when it closed in March and saw all of its income grind to a halt.

She said the money from the Heritage Emergency Fund “came at a critical time for us” and helped “breathe life back into the future of our charity”.

Susan said: “We were delighted to receive a significant boost to our fundraising activity with the award of a £50,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

“The National Lottery Heritage Emergency Funding is responsive to the needs of our sector at this difficult time. The application and assessment process was straightforward. 

“The award recognises the importance of our role in inspiring and educating people about the importance of Scotland’s marine environment and the actions required to safeguard it for the future.

“It helps us to continue to play our part in ensuring that Scotland’s marine environment is healthy, wildlife-rich, valued and enjoyed by all.”

Caroline Clark, the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s director, Scotland, said: “Our marine environment and the species which depend upon it are a fundamental part of our natural heritage.

“The work being done by the Scottish Seabird Centre not only protects and conserves this national resource but also supports the local community through tourism, training and education. 

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to help the Scottish Seabird Centre manage through this uncertain time so that it can continue its vital work in the future.”

Despite this additional funding, Susan said the charity was still in a difficult position and its need for public support remained. She said the Seabird Centre “still has a very difficult course to chart”, with projected losses to the end of the year estimated to be nearly £250,000.

She added: “Even if we do start to reopen our doors in July, the capacity will be down with the likely restrictions still in place, and we will only have a few weeks left of the main tourism season, before heading into our loss-making shoulder season.

“The immediate cliff-edge of closure at end of April/May has been averted, but we still have a long way to go to say that we will be able to survive the financial impact of Covid-19 through to next year.

“While we have hit our appeal halfway mark of £100,000, we still need support to navigate through a very difficult season for tourism in Scotland and consequently for our charity, which relies on that income to survive.”

To donate to the appeal, go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/SeabirdSOS

For more information on how the fund helped the Seabird Centre, visit www.heritagefund.org.uk/blogs/emergency-funding-has-helped-save-our-charity

Those who want to apply to the National Lottery Heritage Fund can do so until noon on July 31. Grants between £3,000 and £250,000 are available.

For more information, go to www.heritagefund.org.uk/responding-coronavirus-covid-19