News and stories | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

A close up of a person conserving a painting on display in the National Portrait Gallery

A conservator works on a painting ready for the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery. Credit: David Parry

News

What can you see when the National Portrait Gallery reopens?

Following a transformational project, supported by a £9.4million National Lottery grant, the National Portrait Gallery in London has reopened its doors.

15/06/2023

Credit Hugh Rowlands

News

A boost for endangered red squirrels and pine martens in North Wales

We’re helping restore the balance of nature and boost the populations of two native species in North Wales.

13/06/2023

A group of 13 people standing outside a building listening to a tour guide as part of a community walking tour

A walking tour delivered as part of the Heritage Trust Network's National Lottery funded project.

Stories

How the Heritage Trust Network is bringing the sector together to learn and develop

Its mix of peer support, events and online resources is helping heritage organisations with everything from financial resilience and governance to inclusion and digital skills.

People enjoying an event in the courtyard of The Piece Hall

An event in the courtyard of The Piece Hall, which was revitalised with the help of National Lottery funding.

News

You can now apply for grants up to £10million

We’ve increased the upper limit of our National Lottery Grants for Heritage to support larger-scale heritage projects across the UK.

30/05/2023

The exterior of a restored victorian bank in Bacup, Lancashire

This Grade II listed former bank in Bacup, Lancashire was restored as a co-working hub and residential apartments

News

Apply for £70,000 grants to support built heritage regeneration organisations

The UK-wide programme will provide funding and support to community-led trusts that save historic buildings and give them a new lease of life to benefit local people.

24/05/2023

Conservators from the National Museum of the Royal Navy with the polar Kellett sledge flag Credit: National Museum of the Royal Navy

News

Rare polar sledge flag used in search for Franklin’s doomed expedition saved for the UK

The National Museum of the Royal Navy's campaign to save a rare polar expedition sledge flag has been successful, thanks to National Lottery funding.

22/05/2023

Two Skylark IX volunteers work on building a wooden rowing boat

Two Skylark IX volunteers honing their boatbuilding skills

Stories

Recovery and resilience: advice from a heritage project improving skills and wellbeing

In Dumbarton, Scotland, The Skylark IX Recovery Trust is preserving a Second World War rescue ship through heritage training opportunities to support local people, including those recovering from drug addiction.

A group of people including children turn Bourn Windmill

Visitors turning Bourn Windmill. Photo: Cambridgeshire ACRE

News

From facing collapse to welcoming visitors: the UK’s oldest windmill reopens

Bourn Mill in Cambridgeshire - which dates from the reign of King Henry VIII - reopened to the public on National Mills Weekend.

16/05/2023

Children stand next to pysanka egg display for Eurovision celebrations

Children with the pysanka egg display for Eurovision. Credit: Pete Carr

News

Eurovision fever in full swing across Liverpool City Region

Thanks to £250,000 of National Lottery funding, we're supporting a host of activities as part of the Eurovision 2023 celebrations.

11/05/2023

Awards lined up at the Museums + Heritage Awards ceremony

News

The Food Museum and SS Great Britain Trust win Sustainable Project of the Year

Joint winners are celebrated for their outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability at this year’s Museums + Heritage Awards.

11/05/2023

A group of people on their knees, digging in a trench in the grass

News

Become one of our consultants and support heritage across the UK

We're seeking expert consultants to apply to our new Register of Support Services (RoSS) Framework from April 2024.

09/05/2023

A close up of a bumblebee on an orange gerbera flower head

A bumblebee on a flower head. Credit: The Bumblebee Conservation Trust

Stories

The plight of the bumblebees and how we can save them

Bees help to provide us with a third of our food globally but are in rapid decline. Our New to Nature trainee Aydan shares some tips on how we can help secure a future for bees.

Wood anemones are often found in ancient woodlands.

News

£11million awarded to protected sites and endangered species in Wales

Projects preserving curlews, grasslands and blanket bog peat stores are among those receiving grants through our Nature Networks Fund.

28/04/2023

A woman placing a manuscript under a professional digitisation device

Digitisation of a manuscript. Photo courtesy of the International Dunhuang Project (CC BY-SA 3.0).

News

Investment in digitisation: what the heritage sector wants

We brought together leaders and stakeholders from across heritage to consider digitisation priorities for government, funders and small organisations – this is what they told us.

26/04/2023

A car crosses the Union Chain Bridge, a small restored suspension bridge over a river.

The Union Chain Bridge reopens to traffic following major restoration project. Credit: Northumberland County Council

News

Oldest vehicle suspension bridge in the world reopens

This World Heritage Day we celebrate the reopening of the iconic Union Chain Bridge that has connected England and Scotland for 202 years.

18/04/2023

Group of children hold books whilst looking at the camera

School children take part in the Bradford Book Project

Stories

Bradford’s diverse community heritage celebrated and shared thanks to local knowledge

£100,000 National Lottery funding was shared across eight local projects, helping them delve into the upcoming City of Culture’s fascinating heritage.

A man kneeling in a garden, tending to plants

Ben, a New to Nature trainee at The Ecology Centre in Kinghorn, in Scotland. Image by Neil Hanna.

News

£1million to create new jobs in natural heritage – apply now

This support builds on £2m already invested in paid work placements to help people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds kickstart their career in the environment sector.

12/04/2023

Clive Gray from Blyth Tall Ships accepts a National Lottery Award from historian David Olusoga

News

Nominate your heritage project and people for a £5,000 award

The National Lottery Awards recognise outstanding National Lottery funded projects and the inspirational people that make those projects happen across the UK.

05/04/2023

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