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 still from the video showing an animation of wild meadow and pollinating bees.

A still from the animation by Brent school children and Alternative View Studios.

Projects

Making Brent wilder – brought to life by primary school children

Two primary schools in Brent have come together to learn about biodiversity, nature and habitats as part of a project to grow new wildflower meadows.

09/02/2022

Black and white studio photo from 1923 of three women posing in a 'frieze'

Frieze, 1923

News

Pioneering portrait photographer Dorothy Wilding celebrated in new exhibition

Works by the photographer – who took the iconic portrait of the young Queen Elizabeth II featured on UK stamps – go on show in Gloucester thanks to National Lottery funding.

08/03/2023

Image of person with long dark hair and dark clothing taking a picture on a mobile of a display of music gig posters at The Museum of Youth Culture

Display of gig posters at The Museum of Youth Culture

Stories

Future-proofing museum collections: four Dynamic Collections successes

We look at four projects getting underway in museums, libraries and archives that are working innovatively to make the most of their collections.

Image of people standing in a line in a countryside setting holding signs reading It's OK 2 B U

The slogan ‘It’s OK 2BU’ became an emblem to represent what it means to be out on the Quantock Hills. Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme

Blogs

Learnings from an LGBTQ+ project: creating pride in the countryside

Jem Gibson shares how they engaged young gender-diverse people with a natural heritage project and created a sense of place and belonging.

06/02/2023

A group of children wearing wellies and coats explore a woodland

Children explore a mature woodland

News

Over £1million invested in Welsh woodlands, with more funding available

Six projects to create or improve woodlands for local communities to use and enjoy are receiving funding from The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG).

07/02/2023

Ardal O’Hanlon presents the An Tobar team with their National Lottery Award. Credit: Bill Smyth Photography.

News

An Tobar is Northern Ireland’s National Lottery Project of the Year

The wellness centre and social farm in Silverbridge, south Armagh has won a National Lottery award for helping young people explore the natural and cultural heritage of Brian’s Wood.

07/12/2022

Museum of Youth image showing a person looking at a record player in a display

Looking at record player display at Museum of Youth Culture. Credit: Museum of Youth Culture.

Projects

Object Lessons: Youth Culture Takes Shape

This project will create a digital archive of some fascinating cultural objects that ‘celebrate a century of teenage life in Britain’.

13/10/2022

Culture Asia performance

News

Smaller grants making a big difference for Scottish communities

Six exciting projects in Scotland have secured £378,640 National Lottery funding to make a difference for people and heritage.

28/10/2022

A family of two adults and a young child in the grounds of St Fagans Museum

Publications

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.

Young people standing in nature with gardening tools

Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside Young Apprentices: (from left to right) Samuel Gibson, Billy Hunt, Sam Phillips and Mia Francis. Credit: Mark Waugh

News

Investing in work placements for young people in natural heritage

We’re partnering with Groundwork UK to deliver paid, nature-based work placements for young people – diversifying the sector and creating a natural legacy to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

20/07/2022

Ignite Yorkshire's Cactus Crew

Stories

A revolution in industrial heritage

In our conversation with Marie Millward, Ignite Yorkshire project manager, we discuss how to move beyond "nostalgia" to engage young people with our industrial past.

Colourful handmade poster for the In Plain Sight project. Rainbows, flowers and an eye decorated with LGBTQ+ colours can be seen

Projects

In Plain Sight: A Story of Gwen Lally

This Bradford-based project will explore the history and traditions of Gwen Lally – a queer historical figure and the first woman pageant producer in England

19/05/2022