Thriving Places
What we mean by place
‘Place’ can mean many things, and definitions vary depending on where you are or who you ask. But examples include a local community, a natural landscape or an entire city.
How heritage supports great places
Many areas across the UK have a ‘sense of place’ that inspires local pride and increases wellbeing.
Heritage sits at the heart of a place’s identity, adding depth, character and value. This can include buildings and monuments, landscapes, high streets and parks.
Heritage helps connect people and communities to a place and boosts local economic prosperity.
Our funding for heritage projects
We welcome projects that take a 'place-based approach'. Place-based working is about:
- identifying challenges and opportunities in the heritage of a place
- developing responses which bring about benefits for both the heritage and the place
- thinking beyond an individual project by considering how it relates to your local area and community
- partnering or coordinating with other organisations to increase the impact of your project
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently prioritising projects that create better places to live, work and visit, and boost local economies.
See our funding programmes to find out how to apply.
A place funder, not just a project funder
We also support place-based working by:
- devolving decision-making, which enables locally based staff, with local expertise, to assess applications and make awards
- addressing under-representation in our funding of geographical areas experiencing deprivation
- working with local councils and others to connect our funding to wider local priorities
- working with national partners and agencies on major place-based initiatives
Running a place-based project
Need help or inspiration?
You can find useful guidance here:
And discover how heritage can create better places in the project examples below.
Stories
Case study: heritage supporting revitalisation in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft
Projects
Great Yarmouth Winter Gardens - Reimagining the People's Palace
Great Yarmouth Borough Council is restoring the UK’s last surviving Victorian ironwork seaside winter gardens.
Basic Page
Strategic initiatives
Projects
A lido revolution: championing outdoor swimming
The Pooling Resources project, led by Future Lidos, has developed and delivered a digital toolkit to support the revival of lidos across the UK.
Blogs
A year as Director of England, North: resilience and saving heritage
Publications
How our targeted funding is improving confidence and collaboration
Projects
How a derelict building on Bangor’s seafront became Northern Ireland’s newest venue
Thanks to overwhelming community support, Open House turned a former bank and court house in Bangor into a contemporary music venue, saving it from dereliction.
News
Two awards for a programme putting nature at the heart of thriving urban places
Projects
Full Cycle: a history of cycling in Forest Gate
This project will look at the cycling history of Forest Gate in Newham – an important cycling epicentre in the late 19th century close to Epping Forest.
News
£200million funding for Heritage Places will boost local economies and pride in place
Publications
Data for Heritage Places – a new analysis using the Heritage Index
Blogs