News and stories | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Children and adults take part in traditional heritage crafts

Ulster Folk Museum is offering free entry on 25 and 26 March

News

Free entry and special offers at hundreds of heritage places this spring

From 18-26 March, for National Lottery Open Week, heritage venues across the UK are running special offers for anyone with a National Lottery ticket or scratchcard.

13/03/2023

Tickets to the Museums + Heritage awards ceremony

News

Shortlist announced for Sustainable Project of the Year

Six projects have been shortlisted for the Museums + Heritage award, which recognises outstanding environmentally sustainable projects or exhibitions.

09/03/2023

A black man waering headphones, looking at a laptop computer and taking notes in a notebook

News

Join our free events to build digital skills and influence policy

Sign up now to learn more about planning and delivering digital projects, and shape digital priorities for governments and funders.

07/03/2023

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

A collage of images featuring children picking vegetables, visitors at a nature reserve, Roman baths and a windmill

News

Introducing Heritage 2033, our new 10-year strategy

We’ve set out a long-term vision for the UK’s heritage that is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone’s future.

02/03/2023

A young boy opening a box at a museum with a 'wow' expression on his face

Videos

The power of heritage

Our inspiring short film celebrates the positive, uplifting impact of heritage.

Three ascending piles of coins with a green plant shoot appearing to grown from each.

Publications

How the learnings from our endowment programme can help your fundraising

The final evaluation of Heritage Endowments shows how endowment schemes can help protect heritage and strengthen organisational resilience.

An outdoor scene of a person welcoming a group of people to a church

Welcoming visitors to St Tydecho Church in Gwynedd, Wales. Credit: National Churches Trust

News

£1.9million to increase the resilience of places of worship

We’re partnering with the National Churches Trust on a new funding programme, targeting three areas of the UK.

28/02/2023

A wooden boardwalk extends out into wetlands

Boardwalk at RSPB Loch Lomond

News

Working together to fund growth in investment in nature and communities

We are teaming up with the Scottish Government and NatureScot to support communities and boost local economies through responsible investment.

28/02/2023

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 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.

A person standing in front of a glass display of pride flags, t-shirts, leaflets and other memorabilia in a glass case

Mark Etheridge, Curator of LGBTQ+ History in front of 'Wales is… Proud' display.

Stories

Wales is Proud: a look into a national LGBTQ+ collection

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum of Wales is actively collecting objects, documents, photographs and oral histories to fully represent the LGBTQ+ community and lived experience in Wales

Two people standing in a fen carrying crops that have been turned into insulation products

Wildlife Trust workers Lorna Parker and Kate Carver with Great Fen insulation products

News

£8million Heritage Horizon Award to visionary Fens Peatland project

How The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire is exploring the potential of wetland farming to tackle climate change and ecological crises.

21/02/2023

Person painting a rickshaw on display in the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum

Rickshaw being painted as part of the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum Manchester Museum

News

Hello Future: Manchester Museum to reopen following ambitious transformation

Supported by National Lottery players, the museum will offer visitors the chance to see never-before-displayed collections, explore unique co-curated galleries and learn about extraordinary projects and research.

16/02/2023

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

Conal McFeely (St Columb’s Hall Trust), Anne-Marie Gallagher (St Columb’s Hall Trust), Dr Paul Mullan (the Heritage Fund) and Helen Quigley (St Columb’s Hall Trust) inside St Columb's Hall.

News

A new dawn for St Columb’s Hall as future is secured

An iconic venue that has been the backdrop to the political and cultural history of Derry/Londonderry will be re-awakened thanks to £751,727 National Lottery funding.

06/02/2023

Young people talking at an event stall with posters and leaflets.

Publications

How collaboration can help deliver better heritage projects

Our guide will help you learn more about cohort working and when to use it as part of your delivery programme.

A group of volunteers from diverse ethnic communities gardening in a planter on a street

Several organisations are working to improve the diversity of the heritage sector's workforce. Pictured: volunteers with the South Riverside Community Development Centre.

News

Heritage organisations collaborating to tackle workforce challenges

We’ve awarded more than £840,000 to pioneer new ways of working through our Heritage Innovation Fund.

24/01/2023

Keep up-to-date

Sign up to our newsletter and never miss out on another story!