THE Skylark IX Recovery Project has been awarded funding as part of an exciting new project.

The trust, which cares for the Skylark IX Dunkirk 'Little Ship', will host an event at the Scottish Maritime Museum's Denny Tank in Dumbarton on Saturday, June 4 showcasing local memories and tales of the boat.

The day-long event will take place during the 82nd anniversary of Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of Dunkirk, as part of celebrations for Scotland's Year of Stories 2022. 

Two new major story-telling projects are set to be unveiled by the Skylark IX Recovery Project during the event.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy performances, creative writing, heritage talk, and children's workshops. 

The event is being delivered with support from the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund, a partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

Claire McDade, project manager at the Skylark IX Recovery Project said: "We’re over the moon to receive funding to help celebrate the Year of Stories with our exciting new projects which bring together memories of Skylark IX and life lived around her during war and peacetime. 

"It is also particularly apt to culminate our storytelling projects with this event during the 800th Anniversary of Dumbarton becoming a Royal Burgh.

"We are looking forward to launching the projects soon and getting as many folk involved as we can." 

READ MORE: Dumbarton Skylark IX volunteer recognised for work towards new rowing club

Marie Christie, head of development at VisitScotland added: "We are delighted to be supporting the Skylark IX Recovery Project through the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund.

"Events play an important role in our communities as they sustain livelihoods and help to celebrate and promote our unique places, spaces and stories.

"Themed Years are all about collaboration and Museums Galleries Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund and VisitScotland are pleased to work in partnership to create this fund to showcase community stories.

"By supporting events taking place within our communities, including the Skylark IX Recovery Project’s event, new opportunities with be provided for locals and visitors to come together and find out more about the diverse stories, past and present, that our communities have to share."

Last May, the trust, which leads skills programmes for those recovering from addictions across West Dunbartonshire, announced "ambitious" plans to build a new Spirit of Skylark Centre in the grounds of the Scottish Maritime Museum. 

The proposed plans will see the boat featured at the heart of the centre alongside a boatbuilding workshop, cafe, remembrance space, and community hub.

Skylark IX helped save 600 lives during the evacuation of Dunkirk. 

It was built as a passenger cruiser for 75 people in 1927 and was called to the aid of stranded allied troops in Dunkirk in 1940. 

The Dunkirk 'Little Ship' later fell into a state of disrepair, eventually sinking on Loch Lomond in 2010.

It was later raised by the Royal Navy following a campaign by veterans.

For further information visit the Skylark IX Recovery Project's website.