Midlands and East

Since 1994 we have awarded over £1.9bn of National Lottery and other funding to more than 13,900 projects in the Midlands and East. 

The Midlands and East of England is steeped in rich heritage. The region is home to vibrant cities and cultural hubs, picturesque countryside and iconic waterways. Its varied history ranges from the birthplace of William Shakespeare to the industrial Black Country.

We’re proud to play a role in protecting and celebrating the region's vibrant cities, beautiful landscapes, historic sites and diverse cultures. It’s part of our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.

Get inspiration for your project

Take a look below at project case studies and latest news from your area.

Our National Lottery Heritage Grants funding programme is open – if you have an idea for a project in the Midlands & East of England, we would love to hear from you. Grants are available from £10,000 up to £10m.

Find out more and explore available funding.

Watch our video to help you apply for a £10,000–£250,000 grant

Our regular funding advice sessions are a great opportunity to:

find out about our funding
get tips on how to make a good application
network with other organisations from your area

Please us know if you have any accessibility requirements so that we may make reasonable adjustments. You can contact us via email: MidlandsandEast@heritagefund.org.uk.

Book onto an upcoming webinar

Thinking about applying to us for a grant of up to £250,000? Submit a Project Enquiry to get feedback on your project idea before making a full application. We'll get back to you within 10 working days.

Submit a Project Enquiry

Follow us on Twitter/X: @HeritageFundM_E

Sign up to our newsletter

We work flexibly and conduct some of our day-to-day business from home.

Please send all items electronically via the email addresses below and not by post.

East Midlands

Email: MidlandsandEast@heritagefund.org.uk

Telephone: 0115 857 6763 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm)

Postal address

Antenna Creative Business Centre
Beck Street
Nottingham, NG1 1EQ

East of England

Email: MidlandsandEast@heritagefund.org.uk

Telephone: 01223 645 938 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm)

Postal address

WeWork Offices
50-60 Station Road
Cambridge, CB1 2JH

West Midlands

Email: MidlandsandEast@heritagefund.org.uk

Telephone: 0121 393 4734 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm)

Postal address

WeWork Offices
55 Colmore Row
Birmingham, B3 2AP

Two people holding shovels and dressed for cold weather walk through a doorway in a wall

Xavier Mahele and Kate Bradbury from Froglife, which is receiving support for the London Blue Chain project.

News

We've awarded £15.6million to help people get out into nature

From urban walking routes and dramatic wild landscapes to Regency gardens, we’re funding projects that will connect communities with their natural heritage.

16/01/2024

The outside of a stone English parish church with a graveyard in the foreground

The church of St Mary the Virgin in Stebbing, Essex. Credit: John Salmon.

Projects

The Way Forward: St Mary’s Church, Stebbing

At the church of St Mary the Virgin in Stebbing, Essex, a programme of major repairs and improvement will remove the church from the Heritage at Risk register and create an inviting community hub.

16/03/2022

A photo of the inside of Leicester Cathedral during a service, taken from a high perspective within the building

Leicester Cathedral reopened for Advent and Christmas services in 2023. Credit: Leicester Cathedral.

Projects

Leicester Cathedral's Journey of Renewal

The Leicester Cathedral Revealed project is blending tradition with innovation to rejuvenate this much-loved place of worship and welcome.

21/03/2017

Detail from a Burne-Jones stained glass window at Birmingham Cathedral showing figures

Detail from a Burne-Jones stained glass window at Birmingham Cathedral. Credit: Birmingham Cathedral.

Projects

Divine Beauty: restoring Birmingham Cathedral's stained glass treasures

Innovative methods of engaging visitors have complemented the restoration of a stunning set of stained glass windows by Birmingham-born Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones.

26/11/2019

Four people play musical instruments including the drums and guitar in front of memorabilia from the Punk era

Punk: Rage & Revolution takes home the England Project of the Year Award. Credit: Alex Wilkinson Media.

News

Success for heritage projects in the National Lottery Awards

Leaders from six projects we’ve funded have taken home a prize this year.

23/10/2023

Adults with complex care needs in a garden

It can be hard for people with complex disabilities and medical conditions to access nature and heritage. Photo: Sense.

Projects

Sense’s project blossoms in National Trust gardens

‘Internal Gardens’ used wearable technology to help people with complex disabilities create tactile connections with natural heritage.

28/04/2022

A photo taken through a keyhole of a prisoner in a cell, wearing striped black and white clothing.

The museum offers insight into the experiences of prisoners from Victorian times to the modern day. Photo: West Midlands Police Museum.

Projects

The Lock-Up: Unlocking History at West Midlands Police Museum

Our funding has enabled the museum to move into a Victorian custody block, the last of its kind in the country.

27/02/2018

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

Three people are looking at worksheets and smiling.

Participants at the residential event in June 2023, as part of Heritage Trade Up. Photo: School for Social Entrepreneurs.

Stories

Five tips for more robust and innovative heritage organisations

Hear from the organisations who took part in our Business Support and Enterprise campaign about how they improved organisational resilience in challenging times.

A group of children leading on a piece of wood attached to a windmill.

Bourn Mill. Image: Matthew Power Photography.

News

National Lottery support saving at-risk heritage sites for 25 years

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. Over the past quarter of a century, Heritage Fund support has helped save some of the nation's most-loved heritage from the list.

09/11/2023