Later this month schoolchildren and students on the Isle of Man will receive the new 2014 ACE card. The Arts, Culture and Education (ACE) scheme continues in 2014 with the ongoing kind support of Lloyds Bank.
ACE cards provide free entry to all Manx National Heritage (MNH) attractions in school or leisure time for schoolchildren and students, aged 18 and under in full time education. 14,000 ACE cards will be delivered to the Island’s schools, The Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education and home-schooled students within the next few weeks with the support of the Department of Education and Children. The previous ACE cards will continue be accepted until 31st March.
The bold designs on the new cards are those of ACE card design competition winners Heather Black, age 15 from Queen Elizabeth II School and Milo Murphy, age 9 from Kewaigue School. The designs come with a new Celtic twist to celebrate 2014 as the 150th anniversary of the birth of Archibald Knox, internationally renowned Manx artist and designer for Liberty and Co.
A presentation at both schools with representatives from all three partners took place to award the competition winners with £100 to spend on art supplies for their school and an artist’s gift set. The runners up Grace Elliot, from Kewaigue School and Sahana Balakrishnan from QEII also received prizes.
Timely with the early weekend openings of key MNH attractions, it’s the perfect opportunity for a weekend stroll or a day of discovery with family or friends. The ACE card can be used at Castle Rushen, Peel Castle and The Laxey Wheel which open weekends from Saturday 15th February. The first weekend opening will be a Free Spring Open Weekend, so all the family can explore for free too. All Manx National Heritage sites will open daily from 29th March.
Tony Pass Chairman of the Trustees of Manx Museum and National Trust:
“It is wonderful to see so many young people and local families engaging with the ACE scheme and visiting and valuing their local heritage, we are most grateful to Lloyds Bank for their continued support. I’d also like to congratulate the winners of the ACE design competition.”
Peter Reid, Island Director of Lloyds Bank said:
“The ACE Card scheme is extremely important for all local children and students. It provides free access to all of the wonderful heritage sites that the Island has to offer. As one of the leading Banks in the local community, Lloyds Bank is committed to supporting this worthwhile initiative which continues to raise awareness of the importance of enjoying and safeguarding our local heritage.”
With a heritage of making a difference within its communities that spans decades, last year Lloyds Banking Group invested £85m in UK communities. Through its branches and businesses, the Group has the potential to reach every family and community in the UK and places immense value on its commitment to helping Britain prosper. Driven by its desire to give back to the communities in which it operates, the Group supports a wide range of ground breaking programmes such as Lloyds Scholars, Money for Life, Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundations and Bank of Scotland Foundation to name a few. The Group believes that giving back to communities is not simply a measure of its success; it believes it’s an important measure of what the Group stands for.
Image caption: Prize presentation at Queen Elizabeth High School QEII (from left) Tony Pass, Chairman of the Trustees of the Manx Museum and National Trust, winner Heather Black and runner-up Sahana Balkrishnan from QEII and Peter Reid, Island Director Lloyds Bank.