SALE SHARKS FOUNDATION AWARDED GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY HERITAGE FUND FOR NORTHERN FORCE PROJECT
Sale Sharks Foundation has been awarded a grant of £143,810 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an exciting new heritage, education and community engagement project celebrating the history of Sale Sharks.
The project, titled Northern Force, will preserve and share the club’s rich heritage while engaging new audiences, supporters and local communities with the stories, people and milestones that have shaped Sale Sharks over the years.
The funding will support the creation of a digital archive, making historic memorabilia, photographs and stories more accessible for future generations. The project will also deliver a series of pop-up exhibitions, workshops and reminiscence sessions in schools, care homes and community settings across Trafford, Stockport and Salford.
Northern Force will celebrate key moments in Sale Sharks history, including the 20th anniversary of the club’s European and domestic success. Through interviews, podcasts and exhibitions, supporters will have the opportunity to reconnect with players and stories from that era, while also exploring the origins of Sale FC and rugby’s role within the local community.
The project will also capture and celebrate the more recent heritage being created through the growth and success of Sale Sharks Women, ensuring their achievements and contribution form part of the club’s legacy.
By preserving important artefacts and stories, increasing access to heritage through digital resources and community activities, and creating new opportunities for volunteers and participants to get involved, Northern Force will help connect people and communities with Sale Sharks heritage in meaningful and lasting ways.
Jack Leech, Head of Rugby Development & Operations at Sale Sharks Foundation, said:
“We’re thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver our Northern Force heritage project. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to preserve and celebrate the history of Sale Sharks, making it more accessible than ever before.
“Through exhibitions, podcasts, digital archives and community activities, we’ll bring the club’s heritage to life for supporters, schools, care home residents and local communities. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of European and domestic success, this project will honour the past while helping inspire future generations through the continued growth of rugby and the legacy of Sale Sharks Women.”
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund:
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
For further information, please visit heritagefund.org.uk
