As wider fundraising continues to raise a crucial additional £650,000 by April 2025 to unlock grants worth £10 million, the Heritage Fund grant will support urgent preservation work with a potential further £3.3 million later in 2025.

The initial award from The National Heritage Lottery Fund will go towards the total cost of moving and securing HMS Unicorn within Dundee’s repaired East Graving Dock, ensuring a stable environment for the long-term preservation of Scotland’s oldest ship.

This move is an essential part of the Unicorn Preservation Society’s vision of Project Safe Haven, an ambitious plan to help transform Dundee’s historic docks with a purpose-built visitor centre that will enhance community engagement and celebrate HMS Unicorn’s maritime heritage. 

Work has already begun to safeguard the future of the 200-year-old vessel, run as an accredited museum and popular visitor attraction, returning strength and robustness to HMS Unicorn’s hull. This will be achieved by cutting edge structural reinforcement, improving her resilience at her current berth and readying her for her move to the East Graving Dock.

To realise the pressing need to move HMS Unicorn to Dundee’s dry East Graving Dock, the Unicorn Preservation Society urgently need to match The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s investment by April 2025. This will unlock some £10 million of strategic grants required to finance this work, including from Tay Cities Region Deal. The necessary and vital work includes the emptying of the dock, repairing it with a new caisson and making it structurally sound and refilled to receive HMS Unicorn floating over a supportive cradle. The delivery of this work is expected to support further funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of up to £3.3 million, ready for the next stage of Project Safe Haven.

Executive director, Matthew Bellhouse Moran, said: “This incredible pledge from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is a massive boost to our fundraising efforts; finance is urgently required to secure the future of this 200-year-old ship for future generations to enjoy. This grant is both a recognition of HMS Unicorn’s immense historical significance and a vote of confidence in our vision to secure her future, namely Project Safe Haven.

“However, the clock is ticking. We urgently need the support of individuals, businesses, and organisations to raise the finance needed for the next stage of Project Safe Haven, moving HMS Unicorn into Dundee’s East Graving Dock, ensuring she doesn’t succumb to the wear and tear of time. £650,000 is required to unlock £10 million of strategic grants for the next stage of works to save this national treasure and create an inspiring legacy for future generations. Without support, HMS Unicorn, a symbol of Dundee’s rich maritime history, may not survive.”

Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, added: “HMS Unicorn is a spectacular surviving relic of our maritime heritage. Holding nearly 200 years of history within its hull, it is not only the oldest ship in Scotland but one of the oldest in the world, and incredibly one of the last remaining warships from the age of sail, still afloat.

“Thanks to National Lottery players we are extremely proud to support the Unicorn Preservation Society to take their ambition plans forward. Making vital progress to creating a permanent Safe Haven for this historic vessel and developing its potential as a major heritage attraction for Dundee and Scotland.”