The HLF Committee for the North East is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region who are chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on regional applications to the fund from £50,000 to £2m, the committee are supported by the regional HLF team for the North East, who operate from Newcastle-based offices.

Trai will join the existing six other members of the committee*. Their expertise widely reflects and compliments the range of heritage applications that HLF receives.

Trai Anfield is a high profile presenter, producer, video journalist, editor and trainer for the BBC and independent productions. She is also becoming known for wildlife photography and travel writing with a conscience. In 2011 Trai founded Enlightened Media, an ethical independent film production and photography company firmly based in the North East of England.

For 10 years Trai was part of the award-winning BBC Look North and BBC Newcastle teams where she forecasted the weather and presented features on a daily basis. She recently left Look North but will continue to work for the BBC. Her next project will be presenting BBC Natural History Unit / Radio 4’s flagship wildlife programme Living World. She also fronts documentaries for BBC1 and is a popular awards ceremony and event host, including deputising for Sir David Attenborough on the 2009 BBC Blue Planet Live tour.

Qualified in Environmental Science and Meteorology, Trai has also worked in countryside management and remains a passionate advocate for our natural heritage. She is on the Board of Groundwork South Tyneside & Newcastle, and Patron of the region’s Friends of Red Kites charity. Trai has had ME since the age of 23 and is also patron of several health and disability charities in the north east. Trai said: “It is an honour to be asked to join the Heritage Lottery Fund NE Committee, and I’m excited about working with such a knowledgeable and dedicated team. The diverse range of projects that HLF supports in the region is hugely impressive, with some of our most treasured heritage assets only accessible due to its funding.

I’m equally impressed that every project is required, and helped by the team, to deliver real benefits of learning and community participation as well as conservation of our heritage assets. North East heritage is some of the richest in the world, and is the result of all our stories and histories, so it’s really important that we all benefit from HLF projects. I’m looking forward to supporting them over the next few years.”

Ivor Crowther, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North East, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Trai to HLF’s North East committee. She brings with her a wealth of experience, particularly in the environment and natural heritage sector, to an existing very strong team of decision makers. Her wide ranging expertise and strong regional awareness will be of great benefit to both HLF and the rich and varied heritage of the North East.”

HLF funds an amazing array of projects that encompass all aspects of the UK’s rich and diverse heritage. The committee that Trai joins covers the whole North East region stretching from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Darlington. During the 18 years that the HLF has existed, the region has shared over £237m supporting more than 1,938 projects. These range from the restoration of historic buildings, improvements to museums and galleries, makeovers for town parks, purchasing works of art and treasured artefacts, helping to conserve the natural environment, and promoting community involvement in conserving local social histories. The projects are both large and small ranging from multi-million pound building refurbishments to local youngsters tracing the history of their local town and filming a DVD or producing a play.

Notes to editors

Existing members of the North East Committee are: Chair, Chris Mullin, Richard Morris, Lindsay Allason-Jones, Dr Sue Antrobus, Patrick Conway OBE and Lesley Hehir.

Further information

Laura Bates, HLF press office, 020 7591 6027 / lbates@hlf.org.uk.