News and stories | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

A person at an archaeological dig site holds up a piece of stone which has been excavated

DigVentures will engage 4,000 participants to help map archaeological sites and ecological habits in the third phase of its Heritage Innovation Fund project.

News

Heritage organisations to share innovative solutions to workforce challenges

The third phase of our Heritage Innovation Fund is supporting projects across the UK to roll out creative new ways of working.

05/12/2024

Two people sit in chairs holding hands with their other hands touching the leaves of a potted plant. Wires run from the plant to pads on the people's wrists. A smiling person in a Sense t-shirt watches.

Taking an inclusive approach to evaluation helps measure a wider range of people’s engagement. Image: Sense.

Stories

Involving disabled people in planning and evaluation makes heritage more inclusive

Sense and the National Trust’s innovative and flexible approach is making sure everyone’s experiences are represented.

A National Lottery scratchcard held in front of a large building with classical architecture and lawn

News

Sign up your project for National Lottery Open Week 2025

It’s a great way to acknowledge your Heritage Fund grant, reach new audiences and benefit from a UK-wide PR campaign.

26/11/2024

A yellow building on a city street with a writing saying Glasgow Zine Library

Stories

Preserving the unique experiences and advice of people from the past

Glasgow Zine Library is not only saving and sharing heritage but supporting the production of it for the future, too.

Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in the great outdoors. Photo: Wayfinding project.

Stories

Inclusion, access and participation: eight ways to improve your project’s reach and impact

Find out how projects we’ve funded are finding creative ways to open up heritage, involve audiences and create better opportunities to take part.

A hand holding a photograph of an eagle landing on a wooden perch, in front of that same wooden perch in a mountainous landscape

News

Nine ‘game changing’ heritage moments made possible by National Lottery funding

Celebrating the impact of 30 years of grant giving, from the natural environment to our maritime and transport legacy.

19/11/2024

A large red brick building with a white tower featuring a clock at the centre of its length.

Stories

30 projects across 30 years

To celebrate our – and the National Lottery’s – birthday, we’re looking back at some of the incredible variety of projects we’ve supported over the years.

An Asian brass band, with musicians and dancers dressed in colourful clothes, walking down a path in front of a stately home

An Indian brass band was part of the celebrations at Wentworth Woodhouse's outdoor family event, WE Wonder, in 2023.

Stories

Turning a stately home into a ‘house of opportunity’

How one project has successfully engaged its community with their local heritage and created benefits beyond just visiting.

A mixed-race boy looking at an artichoke in a field

A young boy taking part in a community gardening project as part of Nextdoor Nature. Image: Gavin Dickson.

News

Our local nature initiative reached eight times further than planned

When we invested £5million in Nextdoor Nature, our partnership with The Wildlife Trusts, we aimed to reach 200 communities. Instead, we reached 1,600.

11/11/2024

A stream surrounded by trees with autumn leaves

Photo: Tim Jones Photography 2015.

News

Over £3.5million funding awarded to Welsh woodlands and tiny forests

Two new rounds of grants are helping projects across Wales to create, restore or enhance woodlands and engage local communities in nature.

07/11/2024

A Heritage Fund member of staff talks with two people at a stall inside a large church

Members of the Heritage Fund's Scotland team attended an event at Paisley Abbey.

News

Places of worship in Scotland and Wales targeted for National Lottery support

Events to highlight our support for places of worship took place last week to encourage organisations to apply for funding.

04/11/2024

People looking at display cases in a mezzanine gallery.

Manchester Museum’s experimental Top Floor supports collective action in response to the climate and ecological crises. Credit: Manchester Museum.

News

Enter the Sustainable Project of the Year award 2025

We’re proud to sponsor the sustainability prize at the Museums + Heritage awards, celebrating outstanding projects and exhibitions that are addressing the climate crisis.

01/11/2024

Behind the scenes at a film set: three actors act a scene in a living room while a camera films

Behind the scenes of filming A Light That Never Fades. Photo: Paul Robinson, PER Productions.

Stories

Shining a light on Arthur Wharton: the first black professional footballer

Filmmaker Mike Tweddle discusses how a National Lottery grant is helping him share the extraordinary achievements of a black sportsman.

People sitting on deck chairs wearing party hats in front of Birnbeck Pier

Celebrations are underway as we announce £10m of funding to bring the Grade II* listed Birnbeck Pier back to life (left to right: Gill Crocker, Marni Eddins and Lou Eddins). Credit: Chris Gorman/Big Ladder.

News

£10million awarded to help save Birnbeck Pier

The unique Victorian landmark has been given a lifeline on its 160th anniversary, thanks to National Lottery players.

28/10/2024

Three black people take part in a workshop on black history. All three people have dark skin of various shades, the focus of the image is a woman holding a magazine with black people on the cover

A Rebel Curators workshop at M Shed in October 2024. Andreann Asibey (left), Jazz Thompson (middle) and Bandele Iyapo (right). Photo: Julz Davis.

Blogs

Rebel Curators: reclaiming narratives of slavery at Bristol’s M-Shed

Co-creation with the African-Caribbean community, made possible with £70,000 in National Lottery funding, is another step towards including their perspectives in telling Bristol’s history.

28/10/2024

A Two people standingin front of a heritage site doing the crossed fingers selfie

Two people doing our #ThanksToYou crossed finger selfie outside the synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil.

News

Get involved in Crossed Finger Selfie Day 2024

Join us on social media on Tuesday 19 November to say a big thank you to National Lottery players for making your heritage project possible.

24/10/2024

A large pile of silver coins on a black background

News

Major Norman Conquest coin hoard secured for the UK

The Chew Valley Hoard, which at £4.3million is the highest valued treasure find on record, has been acquired by the South West Heritage Trust thanks to National Lottery funding.

22/10/2024

Gopika Jayasree stands beside a digital screen and gives a talk

Gopika Jayasree, who took part in Digital Heroes, talking at an event called Heritage Unleashed – Wider Engagement Through Digital.

Stories

Organisational sustainability: seven ideas for a more resilient heritage sector

Get inspired by projects that are strengthening heritage to be adaptive and financially sustainable, contributing to communities and economies.

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