Discovery Point project secures share of £1.2 million funding programme

Dundee Heritage Trust has secured a major funding boost after its Discovery Point Transformed project was selected as one of just fifteen projects across the UK to receive support from the ScottishPower Foundation in 2026.

The announcement will see Dundee Heritage Trust share in a £1.2 million funding programme that has been awarded to charities delivering transformative projects within their communities.

The funding will support the Trust’s ambitious Discovery Point Transformed project, which aims to bring the extraordinary scientific legacy of RRS Discovery to life for a new generation of visitors.

The project will focus on the groundbreaking research carried out during the ship’s Antarctic expeditions more than 100 years ago and demonstrate how that pioneering work continues to inform global climate science today.

Dundee Heritage Trust said the generous support from the ScottishPower Foundation will enable the team to spark curiosity around Discovery’s remarkable scientific achievements while helping visitors better understand the connection between historic exploration and some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Built in Dundee and launched in 1901, RRS Discovery remains one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and one of Scotland’s most important historic ships.

The vessel famously carried Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton on the British National Antarctic Expedition and played a crucial role in advancing scientific knowledge of the polar regions.

The Discovery Point Transformed project forms part of Dundee Heritage Trust’s wider vision to enhance the visitor experience and ensure Discovery’s stories continue to inspire audiences for generations to come.

The latest funding award represents a significant vote of confidence in Dundee’s cultural and heritage sector and highlights the national importance of preserving and sharing the city’s unique maritime and scientific history.