The UK directions apply to all funding made by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. We report on our progress against the policy directions annually, via our Annual Report and Accounts which is published on the UK government website. The policy directions apply to National Lottery funds and not grant in aid. The National Heritage Act dictates what we can and cannot do with grant in aid.

The policy directions for England are set by the Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Devolved directions additionally apply. Ministers in the devolved nations use their powers to give additional directions to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. There are policy directions for Scotland and Wales. You can view and download all policy directions from this page.

Draft Northern Ireland policy directions went out to public consultation in February 2022. The National Lottery Heritage Fund considered the responses and engaged with the Department for Communities in September 2022 on an updated draft, however, the NI Policy Directions, as of February 2026, are still awaiting ministerial approval.