In 2017 the Ulster Historic Churches Trust and the National Churches Trust worked in partnership to establish the Northern Ireland Maintenance Project. The project explored the use of drones for high level inspection of churches – focusing on the difficult to reach elements such as roofs, parapets, finials, rainwater goods, towers and spires. 24 churches took part in the project and benefitted from a report which provided clear photographic evidence of the defects uncovered together with a detailed appraisal of the structure and clearly identified future maintenance works and repairs.
National Churches Trust have recently received funding from the Department for Communities’ Covid-19 Culture, Languages, Arts and Heritage Support Programme to extend the scheme and are therefore seeking Expressions of Interest from churches who would like to have a FREE drone survey of their building.
Churches will be selected to take part in December 2020 and the drone surveys will take place in January and February 2021. Once you have received the survey report you will be invited to apply for a grant from the Treasure Ireland Grants Programme to help address any issues that have been identified.
If you would like to be considered for a Free drone survey and report please complete the simple one page Expression of Interest Form which can be found here: https://forms.gle/1jFg27ma1YKJne917.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IS WEDNESDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2020
