Areas of Focus year 6 final report
This report brings together key lessons from our five Areas of Focus evaluation reports and provides recommendations for future place-based work. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Research and evaluation
Our research and evaluation helps us to understand our past work, and use that to inform how we work going forward.
Research helps us to understand the value and role of heritage in modern life, as well as exploring and testing ideas for future funding.
While we undertake evaluation to understand the outcomes and impacts of our past investment. It helps us to learn and improve.
67 publications listed.
Index
2025
2024
Areas of Focus year 5 evaluation report
We’ve explored the latest impacts of our targeted funding for under-served places across the UK, what’s working and where there’s room for improvement. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Understanding the context and needs of the maritime heritage sector
Our new historic ships research is helping us understand the condition and challenges of vessels on the National Historic Fleet and how to effectively target our funding and strategic support. (Research, Insight : )
Establishing a carbon baseline and decarbonisation approach for our investments
This report reviews the Heritage Fund’s grant portfolio carbon footprint and recommends an approach to minimise the environmental impacts of our funding. (Research : )
Kick the Dust programme evaluation: empowering young people in heritage
Our £10million pilot programme to make heritage relevant to people aged 11-25 has concluded after six years of achievements and learning. (Evaluation, Targeted programmes, Insight : )
Open licensing: a digital heritage leadership briefing
We commissioned Dr Andrea Wallace and Michael Weinberg from The GLAM-E Lab to produce a snapshot on open licensing across the UK heritage sector – its benefits, opportunities and risks. (Research, Insight : )
The impact and legacy of our Digital Skills for Heritage initiative
The end of programme evaluation reveals thousands of people and organisations took part in and benefitted from our investment and includes recommendations for the future. (Evaluation, Targeted programmes, Insight : )
How our targeted funding is improving confidence and collaboration
In the fourth year of our Areas of Focus initiative, we examine how our support is benefiting communities and their heritage in our 13 target areas. (Evaluation : )
2023
Green Recovery Challenge Fund evaluation
These reports examine the delivery of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, presenting findings on the impact of its funded projects. (Evaluation : )
Artificial Intelligence: a digital heritage leadership briefing
We commissioned Dr Mathilde Pavis to produce a snapshot of what innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) looks like across the UK heritage sector. It can help you decide whether to, how and when to use AI. (Research : )
Data for Heritage Places – a new analysis using the Heritage Index
How we’ve used data about heritage, society and investment levels, alongside local insight, to select an initial nine locations across the UK for strategic investment. (Research, Strategic planning research : )
Dedicated time and investment is increasing application success in under-served places
We take a look at the progress we’ve made through our Areas of Focus programme three years in, and what we still need to do to meet future goals. (Evaluation : )
The lasting legacy of our investment in place
We take a look at the ongoing impact of our Great Place Scheme in England, a year on from our original end of project evaluation. (Evaluation : )
Our strategy development research
Insights into heritage sector priorities and wider public attitudes have helped shape our strategy for supporting the UK’s heritage. (Research, Strategic planning research : )
How the learnings from our endowment programme can help your fundraising
The final evaluation of Heritage Endowments shows how endowment schemes can help protect heritage and strengthen organisational resilience. (Evaluation : )
How collaboration can help deliver better heritage projects
Our guide will help you learn more about cohort working and when to use it as part of your delivery programme. (Research : )
2022
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Review update report
In this report we summarise – for each of our four EDI workstreams – our progress during 2021–2021 and our ambitions for the rest of 2022–2023. (Research : )
How our pioneering programme showed what a vital public resource parks are
Explore the evaluation of our three-year initiative to help towns and cities across the UK transform their use and management of green space. (Evaluation : )
Heritage sector is concerned about financial outlook but committed to the environment
We surveyed organisations that manage and support all types of heritage across the UK. Explore what their responses reveal about current attitudes in our sector. (Heritage Pulse, Research : )
Understanding how we can be a more inclusive and equitable funder
Explore the findings from our independent research examining perspectives on heritage, inclusion and barriers to accessing our funding. (Research : )
Placing heritage at the heart of communities
We compare the findings of our two £22m Great Place Schemes to learn how culture and heritage can drive positive change locally. (Evaluation : )
A review of green finance in the UK
Exploring new approaches to investment in natural heritage and support for nature’s recovery. (Research : )
Grants for Places of Worship programme evaluation
An evaluation of sixty projects from the Grants for Places of Worship programme demonstrates the role these buildings continue to play in the daily lives of their communities. (Evaluation : )
Driving long-term positive change through place-based funding
We investigate the impact of our funding for placemaking and explore how our we can better support people and places to thrive across the UK. (Research : )
Making real changes in collections development
Understanding the impact of our Collecting Cultures programme, and a look ahead to our new campaign, Dynamic Collections. (Evaluation : )
A growing confidence in digital: from pandemic survival to future planning
The second Digital Attitudes and Skills for Heritage (DASH) survey report offers a unique insight into how the UK heritage sector's use of digital has evolved during the pandemic. (Research : )
2021
Advice on fundraising in a time of crisis
Researcher and evaluator Henrietta Hopkins, Director of Hopkins Van Mil, introduces a new report which finds that heritage endowments are a cornerstone of resilience in challenging times. (Evaluation : )
How can the Heritage Fund be more inclusive of under-represented groups?
We commissioned independent research to understand perceptions of our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion, and barriers to accessing our funding. (Research : )
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Review report
In this report we summarise – for each of the four workstreams – what we learned over the past 12 months, what we have already achieved, and set out key actions we will take throughout 2021-2022. (Research : )
Increased investment levels in under-served areas
We look at the key learnings and recommendations from the first 24 months of our Areas of Focus initiative. (Evaluation : )
Assessment of local authority heritage priorities and support needs
This report presents insights from local authorities to help deliver resilient heritage and long-term improvements to places and communities. (Research : )
Heritage Emergency Fund evaluation
This report evaluates how heritage organisations across the UK used the emergency funding which The National Lottery Heritage Fund provided at speed in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the positive impact which it has had on the sector. (Evaluation : )
Parks for People: why should we invest in parks?
Evidence from the Parks for People programme and six case studies uncovers the importance of our parks and how we can support them in future. (Evaluation : )
2020
Great Place Scheme Nations interim report
Between December 2017 and March 2018, The Fund awarded through Great Place Scheme Nations (GPS Nations), grants ranging between £150,000 to £500,000 to 18 places in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. (Evaluation : )
Year of Young People evaluation: young people rise to the challenge
‘Let young people shine’ was the theme of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, and shine they did, our evaluation report found. (Evaluation : )
Results from the first UK-wide survey of digital in heritage
The Digital Attitudes and Skills for Heritage (DASH) survey report offers vital insight into how heritage leaders can support their staff, trustees and volunteers. (Research : )
Resilient Heritage programme evaluation
To discover if our funding enabled grantees to increase their organisational resilience, increase their capacity or achieve significant strategic change. (Programme evaluation, Evaluation, Targeted programmes, Insight : )
eNGO Coronavirus Impact Survey Report
Between 20 and 24 March 2020, Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link) worked with, NI Environment Link, Scot Link and Wales Environment Link and our members to conduct a UK-wide survey of the impact of the coronavirus on the environment sector. (Research : )
Economic insight into the impact of COVID-19
This briefing summarises The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s evidence of the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on heritage UK wide. (Research : )
2019
Space to Thrive report
A rapid evidence review of the benefits parks and green spaces have for people and communities. (Research : )
Heritage Endowments evaluation
This is the second interim report from our evaluation of the Heritage Endowments Programme. The findings in this report are divided into two sections: early findings and interim findings. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Great Place Scheme evaluation (England)
BOP Consulting evaluation of the Great Place Scheme, an initiative which is piloting new approaches to putting culture at the heart of communities and local policy-making. (Evaluation, Insight : )
International working helps build a stronger heritage sector at home
Our research highlights opportunities and barriers involved in international working. (Research : )
SFF consultation report: executive summary
An executive summary of the report into HLF's role prior to the launch of the Strategic Funding Framework in January 2019. (Research : )
Public Perceptions of Heritage 2018
This research was commissioned to provide an updated understanding of public perception of heritage and how it is valued. (Research : )
First World War Centenary activity evaluation
From April 2010 to March 2018, HLF awarded over £94 million to more than 1,900 First World War projects. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Kick The Dust year one evaluation
Our ambitious £10million Kick the Dust (KtD) programme is transforming how heritage organisations engage with young people. (Evaluation : )
2018
What have we done for nature?
This research looks at the impact that our investment has had since 1994 on landscapes, nature and the organisations that champion nature. (Research : )
Planning for the future
To help us plan for the future, we have been finding out what National Lottery players see as priorities for our funding. (Research, Insight : )
The story of us: heritage and communities
Research from Esme Ward, Clore Fellow, into how to best support communities in creating new heritage activity. (Research, Insight : )
2017
Funding for community asset transfer
Research examining how National Lottery funding has provided for projects that enable, support or follow a community asset transfer. (Research, Insight : )
2016
State of UK Public Parks 2016
This report shows that there is a growing deficit between the rising use of parks and the declining resources available to manage them. (Research, Insight : )
Catalyst Endowments evaluation
A match-funding initiative offering heritage organisations in the UK the opportunity to create an endowment and bring additional private money into the heritage sector. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Economic impact of UK heritage tourism economy
Our latest report on the economic impact of heritage-based tourism in the UK. (Research, Insight : )
2014
Non-grant finance and the heritage sector
Research into the heritage sector's interest in non-grant sources of finance, and the attitudes of social investors to heritage organisations. (Research, Insight : )
State of UK Public Parks 2014
A study into the condition, quality and resourcing of the UK’s public parks. (Research : )
2013
Parks for People evaluation
This programme aims to regenerate public parks and cemeteries of national, regional or local heritage value for the enjoyment and recreation of local people. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Collecting Cultures evaluation
This research follows the progress of the 22 Collecting Cultures projects we have funded over the last four years. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Townscape Heritage Initiative evaluation
The evaluation of the THI programme covers 17 case studies, across a wide mix of towns and cities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Oral history projects
Review of HLF's investment in oral history projects, including how this investment helped to deliver HLF's 2002-2013 strategic aims. (Evaluation, Insight : )
New ideas need old buildings
Research into how commercial businesses based in the historic buildings can be more successful than other commercial businesses. (Research, Insight : )
2012
Young Roots evaluation
An evaluation of the Young Roots programme. (Evaluation, Insight : )
Social enterprise and rural religious buildings, March 2017
Research to examine whether social enterprise can effectively assist the sustainability of rural places of worship. (Research : )
2011
The social benefits of involvement in heritage projects
We have looked at the social benefits of involvement in HLF projects through two different pieces of research. (Evaluation : )
Landscape Partnerships evaluation
This report, produced by the Centre for European Protected Area Research at London University Birkbeck, presents an evaluation of HLF’s Landscape Partnership programme, together with a review of the participative approach to evaluation which informed this work. (Evaluation : )
2010
Heritage and the economy
These reports present the results of case studies that look at the economic impacts of tourism that HLF investment has had. (Evaluation, Insight : )
2004
Challenge and change, November 2004
In 2004 Demos produced a report looking at the ‘cultural value’ of heritage. The authors distinguished between the intrinsic, instrumental and institutional impacts of heritage, and recommended that HLF needed to take each into account when making grant awards. (Research : )