Investing in disability heritage
Disabled people are under-served in every area of the heritage sector, including people who are learning disabled, people with physical or sensory disabilities or those living with dementia or using mental health services.
We are working in partnership with disabled people to change this unfair situation. That's why we make it mandatory that all of the projects we fund ensure a wider range of people are involved in heritage.
Disabled people are far more likely to be digitally excluded, face barriers to communication, and feel more socially isolated. Even before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions were more likely to experience poor mental health and wellbeing.
We know that this is something that heritage projects can help to address.
Ewan Bachell, the Heritage Fund project manager
Here are some of the inspirational projects run by disabled people or delving into the history of disability in the UK. If you've got an idea, we'd love to hear from you.

Projects
Touching stitches: embroidery access for the blind
This innovative project explored ways to enable blind and partially sighted people to access the Edinburgh College of Art’s historic textile collection, which spans over three centuries.

Projects
Our Social Networks: Capturing the nature of friendship and intimacy for people with learning disabilities
This Mencap Cymru project captured the history and nature of friendships and relationships experienced by people with a learning disability in Wales. W

Projects
NL20:Picturing Our Past
A participatory photography project is supporting disabled people and those from socially deprived areas to engage with their local and national heritage.

Projects
The Wilderness: Saving Nature’s Heritage To Improve Wellbeing
Despite challenges during the pandemic, The Wilderness project shows how older people’s wellbeing can be improved by actively restoring and engaging with natural heritage.

Blogs
Inclusion isn't a 'challenge', it's a chance for exciting possibilities

Blogs
Making heritage websites accessible to all
Publications
Digital guide: an introduction to online accessibility

Projects
Digitising the Leonard Cheshire Sound Archive - preserving and raising awareness of Leonard Cheshire History
256 sound tapes that record the memories of people who have lived, worked and volunteered at Leonard Cheshire Disability since the 1950s will be preserved and made available to the public.

Projects
100 Portraits - a living archive of learning disability today
Artists used portraiture to capture a snapshot of the learning disabled community in Scotland during the pandemic.

News
South Wales wellbeing garden wins National Lottery award
News
£3.2million for the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project

News
Latest National Lottery funding opens up access to heritage

News
Podcasts: how the heritage sector is embracing the trend

Projects
#15 Llanfyllin ni - our Llanfyllin
The ‘Llanfyllin ni – our Llanfyllin’ project in Mid Wales is recording the contribution made by people living with learning disabilities to their local community.
News
Recognising access in its many forms

Blogs
Access to culture for disabled people: changing attitudes
Projects
Rediscovering 800 years of disability history
The Accentuate History of Place focuses on exploring disabled people’s lives from the Middle Ages to the present day, in relation to built heritage.

Projects
Sensing the Wild- connecting visually impaired people to nature
Through their Sensing the Wild project, Going for Independence CIC alongside Wildlife Trust experts aimed to help visually impaired people explore the nature on their doorsteps.

Projects
Foyle Valley Transport and Railway Museum
Disability charity Destined Ltd are improving access to the Foyle Valley Railway Museum.

Projects
Learning Together: Improving intellectual access to heritage for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities
The stories behind exhibits at four of Scotland’s leading heritage attractions are being brought to life for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.