Children and young people

Heritage has a crucial role to play in enriching the lives of children and young people, creating a more inclusive society.

Since 1994, we are proud to have invested over £60million across the UK in projects working with children and young people. This includes the £10m Kick the Dust programme.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is committed to making heritage more inclusive and accessible to a wider range of people and this includes the younger generations. We know that children and young people can play a significant role in creating innovative and exciting heritage projects that really speak to them.

Explore some of our work below and find inspiration for your project, then discover whether your idea is eligible for funding.

a parade in a town high street, one person holds up a sign with 'hope street' on it and a young person in a homemade mask shakes maracas

Publications

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.

Two people wearing Reimagine, Remake, Replay tshirts using filming equipment at an event

Reimagine, Remake, Replay is a Kick the Dust programme that ran in Northern Ireland.

Blogs

Techniques for supporting young people's wellbeing during heritage projects

How Kick the Dust projects worked to create high quality environments for participants.

05/03/2024

an older man wearing blue overalls in a bicycle repair shop

Edward Ernest Etty, also known as Ted, is the focus of a cycling heritage project sharing over 70 years of his experience. Credit: Andrew Baker Photographer.

News

Celebrate your heritage champions for Heritage Treasures Day 2024

We’re kicking off our 30th birthday year by shining a spotlight on heritage leaders and people who make heritage projects possible, and we’re encouraging you to join in.

11/01/2024

a crowd at a celebration event inside coventry cathedral

The Deliaphonic celebration event took place at Coventry Cathedral.

Projects

Deliaphonic: a symphony of heritage and creativity

The Tin Music and Arts marked the 80th anniversary year of Delia Derbyshire with a celebration in her home city of Coventry.

20/02/2017

Gopika Jayasree.

Blogs

How becoming a Digital Hero transformed my career and my confidence

Hear from Gopika about how taking part in the Heritage Trust Network’s Digital Heroes project transformed her future.

08/11/2023

A group of children posing for a photograph, some holding family objects

Children at a workshop held during the project.

Stories

Cocorico! Exploring the heritage in our homes

A Congolese community organisation in Swansea brought people together to learn about and share their heritage through personal items.

An aerial photo of an archaeological dig in a field

Archeological excavations at Rendlesham. Photo: Suffolk County Council / Jim Pullen.

Projects

Rendlesham Revealed: unearthing Anglo-Saxon life in Suffolk

A community archaeology project has made new discoveries in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of East Anglia with the help of hundreds of volunteers.

21/06/2018

A community growing area in Burry Port.

Projects

Creating local green spaces in Pembrey and Burry Port, Carmarthenshire

Dilapidated playgrounds and open urban land was transformed into community spaces to create local places for nature and people.

03/08/2020

A large group of people sitting on a roundabout all holding flags for different countries of the world

News

Applications open for One Young World Heritage Fund scholarships

In partnership with One Young World, we are offering 10 young leaders in Northern Ireland the opportunity to attend the One Young World Summit 2023.

11/09/2023

My School, My Planet activities.

Projects

My School, My Planet: supporting schools and community groups to improve Walsall's natural heritage

My School, My Planet is helping 16 Walsall schools and community groups to learn about and improve their natural spaces and mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.

21/07/2022

Children stand next to pysanka egg display for Eurovision celebrations

Children with the pysanka egg display for Eurovision.

News

Eurovision fever in full swing across Liverpool City Region

Thanks to £250,000 of National Lottery funding, we're supporting a host of activities as part of the Eurovision 2023 celebrations.

11/05/2023

A close up of a bumblebee on an orange gerbera flower head

A bumblebee on a flower head.

Stories

The plight of the bumblebees and how we can save them

Bees help to provide us with a third of our food globally but are in rapid decline. Our New to Nature trainee Aydan shares some tips on how we can help secure a future for bees.