GoWest has always been a loose association of volunteers who come together periodically to achieve specific objectives. Twenty years have passed since that dreadful outbreak of Foot and Mouth paralysed so much of the countryside. It was then that the Go West Management Group was set up and the first project in the Teme Valley developed. We wanted to see if the history and heritage of the countryside, and more specifically its ancient churches, could be used to help bring tourists and visitors back to the countryside, to assist the local economy and to contribute to greater understanding between town and country. Over the years several ideas have been developed, some have been successful and others not but at the end of 2020 it is encouraging to see how many disparate ideas are working together in ways that remain true to our original objectives.
Funding Go West activities has not been not easy but so far our needs have been met in an assortment of ways and for that we are very grateful. When we launched our first web site in 2003 it was to coincide with the publication of a set of paper promotional leaflets, something we certainly could not afford to do today! At one time we thought that we might be able to part fund our existence with the online sale of CDs and other material but that did not prove to be the case. Nonetheless technological developments have made all sorts of other things possible.
Today we run two web sites, one for the Heritage Knights and one for heritage detectives and other visitors to our beautiful area.
GoWest is grateful for the funding it has received from received funding from:
Little Malvern Priory Church
The National Heritage Lottery Fund
The Elmley Foundation
Wychavon District Council
Worcester Diocese: CARL and the Board of Education
PLUS
Countless hours of activity from several hundred volunteers. Thank you.
The Heritage Knights would also like to say thank you for the support of Pershore Abbey and Stoulton Village Hall.