Auckland Academy
About The Auckland Project
The Auckland Project is a regeneration charity, working to create positive change for those living, working and visiting Bishop Auckland and to ensure the town’s future is as magnificent and vibrant as its past.
A key part of this is working directly with the local community to deliver a wide range of formal and informal learning for adults and young people and create jobs and apprenticeships both directly, through the Auckland Academy and via The Project’s supply chain.
The Auckland Project currently employs over 100 members of staff, with more than 80% coming from County Durham. This includes 14 apprentices, who are developing their skills in areas such as Horticulture, Visitor Services, Catering and Curatorial.
To date, 37 people have completed apprenticeships at The Auckland Project, with many going on to new careers, further education or taking on full-time roles at the charity.
To help drive this positive change in Bishop Auckland the charity is creating a visitor destination incorporating seven sites - Auckland Castle (once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham), a Spanish Gallery, Faith Museum, Walled Garden, Deer Park, Mining Art Gallery and Auckland Tower visitor centre.
Auckland Tower opened in the Market Place in October 2018, following the Mining Art Gallery, in October 2017. Bishop Trevor Gallery, a temporary exhibition space within Auckland Castle, opened in June 2019, with the Castle itself due to reopen to the public later this year (2019). The other attractions will follow in stages in the years ahead.
Approaching £150m has already been committed to achieving all of The Auckland Project’s aims, with support from a wide range of organisations, charitable trusts and individuals, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Visitors to the destination will also play a crucial part in helping bring it to life.
For more information about The Auckland Project, please visit aucklandproject.org or search Auckland Project on Facebook and Twitter.
Auckland Academy
Auckland Academy is a pioneering partnership between The Auckland Project and Bishop Auckland College
It is the first time an independently-run regeneration charity and further education college have joined forces in this way.
The academy offers young people in the local area an opportunity to develop their skills whilst staying in education.
Apprentices will gain hands-on experience in areas such as catering, horticulture, business, tourism and customer services.
34 of the apprentices are being supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund over three years.
