Now for the Facts

As useful as observation of the House has been, there are also "official" as well as internal statements regarding the activities of the organization which have to be taken in to consideration. The Lauderdale House Annual Report for the 2008-2009 year stated that the House has seen a steady increase in their turnover over the last few years. This is no surprise when considering over 1970 activities taking place at the House, with over 65,000 total attendants in the 2008-2009 year alone. However, Lauderdale House is operating to "its absolute capacity" (Annual Report, 2008-2009) and while re-modeling has been thoroughly looked at and even estimated, the funding and grants obtained still do not cover costs. The application for the Heritage Lottery Fund (2009) indicated thousands of pounds in proposed changes, including disabled access, better facilities, and general maintenance such as painting and the upkeep of a historic facility. While these factors might have not contributed to stopping the 65,000+ attendants, the 2008 Survey done by the House indicated that individuals do pay attention. While most of the 180 participants indicated that they enjoyed the space and that it was a "nice facility", a few did comment on the "fading" appearance of the House (Lauderdale House Survey, 2008). As the House continues to aim for more financial stability (Nash, 2010), through my observations it has made the best possible use of its space, filling the long galleries with beautiful and unique art, providing a space for someone's happiest day of his or her life, and encouraging kids to express themselves creatively. It is these factors that inspire employees and volunteers to develop the House and strive for sustainable future.


Lauderdale House, 2008. Lauderdale House Survey Analysis.

Lauderdale House, 2009. Lauderdale House Annual Report 2008-2009, London: Lauderdale House.

Nash, K., 2010. Discussion on Goals of the House. (Personal Communication 3 February, 2010).