Youngsters from Great Yarmouth have been shortlisted for an award after learning new skills working on heritage projects around the world.
Since 2014 the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust has been offering an international training programme for young people in which they travel to Bulgaria, Estonia and Taiwan to help repair buildings and monuments while learning a new craft.
The trust also takes youngsters from across the globe in to work on historic buildings in the UK.
They have been nominated for Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young People category at the annual Historic England Angel Awards.
Chair of the trust, Bernard Williamson, said: “This is an enormous honour for Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust and is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of all the young people that have been involved with the project.”
Conservation projects in Great Yarmouth are used for building skills training, and the preservation trust also hosts annual workshops in Bulgaria at a derelict farmhouse.
So far the project has helped 128 receive 8,745 hours of training.
The young people involved in the project come from a range of backgrounds, nationalities and cultures but they all share a passion for heritage and preservation.
Project director Darren Barker said: “There is something wonderful in seeing a Taiwanese conservation student sharing carpentry skills with a Bulgarian architecture student, or young people from Yarmouth and Estonia communicate through nods and gestures as they rebuild a dry stone wall.”
The awards look to celebrate the volunteers who often go unrecognised.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England said: “So often they are in the background, but now we turn the spotlight on the volunteers and heritage professionals whose work ensures we can continue to enjoy England’s wonderful historic sites.”
Each project is seeking the public’s support for the Historic England People’s Favourite award voted for by the public.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, London on November 27.
To vote go to HistoricEngland.org.uk/AngelAwards
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