£1.2m for Bletchley Park headlines significant investment into Milton Keynes organisations via Cultural Recovery Fund

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has earmarked £400 million in grants and loans to allow culture and heritage sector businesses to survive.

This funding is designed to allow businesses to flourish after months of having to close up during periods of lockdown and Coronavirus enforced restrictions.

Bletchley Park, remains most famous for the role British men and women played there, deciphering enemy codes during World War Two. The efforts of these men and women is credited with saving thousands of lives during a brutal global war.

Now, the site runs exhibitions and once further government restrictions hopefully ease on May 17, visitors will be allowed to learn more and see replicas of the work done at the Milton Keynes site during war time.

A spokesperson for Bletchley Park released the following statement on Twitter, saying: “We are thrilled that Bletchley Park will benefit from the latest round of the #CultureRecoveryFund. This will help to mitigate the economic impact of continued lockdown and delayed reopening. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon!”

Previously, social media giants, Facebook, offered major funding to Bletchley Park. The funding alongside a £447,000 government grant was said to have saved 35 jobs in Milton Keynes.

Steve Hatch, Facebook's boss in northern Europe, stated the media giants decision to support Bletchley Park was motivated by a desire to protect a site of innovative computer work, referring to groundbreaking innovations completed at wartime. He said: "The historic achievements of Alan Turing and the Bletchley team have benefited all of us greatly, including Facebook, and we're thrilled to help preserve this spiritual home of modern computing."

Other Milton Keynes businesses given financial support included: £25,000 for the Milton Keynes Arts Centre, £89,823 for Milton Keynes Islamic Arts Heritage and Culture Organisation and £50,000 for the Milton Keynes Museum Trust.

MK Gallery received £125,000, MÓTUS, the dance company was given £25,300, Pagrav Dance Company was assigned £24,802 and RGS Music took £40,000.

SNP Productions is granted £61,305, The Craufurd Arms received £50,548, the National Museum of Computing was granted £30,442 and Wavendon Allmusic Plan took £256,241.