Areas of Focus

What is an Area of Focus?
In our Strategic Funding Framework 2019–2024, we set out ambitions to provide targeted support to 13 places – ‘Areas of Focus’ – that have historically received lower levels of investment from us, and displayed the highest evidence of need based on data from the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
This was in response to National Lottery player consultation, which highlighted a desire to see money raised by The National Lottery targeted towards communities who would benefit the most from funding.
We identified 13 Areas of Focus that have the potential to engage people with heritage for the first time:
- Brent (London & South)
- Corby (Midlands & East)
- Enfield (London & South)
- Knowsley (North of England)
- Inverclyde (Scotland)
- Luton (Midlands & East)
- Newham (London & South)
- North-East Lincolnshire (North of England)
- North Lanarkshire (Scotland)
- Neath Port Talbot (Wales)
- Rhondda Cynon Taff (Wales)
- Tendring (London & South)
- Walsall (Midlands & East)
Our work in these areas
Our work is guided by a vision for heritage to support thriving places and communities.
Since 2019, our teams have been working with a wide range of stakeholders in the 13 areas – from Local Authorities, to heritage, community and voluntary sector organisations – to identify the best way to deliver positive outcomes through heritage.
In practice, this has included a range of activities to support local organisations with access to our funding:
- partnership working, including with other funders
- community and micro-grants schemes
- the ability to solicit or fast-track grant applications where a time-limited opportunity presents itself, such as significant government or other partnership funding
- commissioning specialist support or capacity building for organisations delivering heritage projects for the first time
At the midpoint of our Strategic Funding Framework, we have distributed around £18million to our 13 Areas of Focus, through The National Lottery and government funding.
Looking to the future
We will continue to seek opportunities to engage, invest and celebrate in the heritage of these places.
Discover more of the work we are doing in our Areas of Focus below.
Projects
Newham Heritage Month 2021: how the local community thrived together
Newham Heritage Month is an annual heritage festival that celebrates the borough’s local heritage, led by the community for the community.

Blogs
Luton: A vibrant, diverse town with a rich heritage identity
Projects
Preserving and sharing the memories of London 2012 volunteers
Newham based arts company Parrabbola will share some of the memories of the estimated 70,000 volunteers at the heart of London 2012.
Projects
Exploring Newham’s Olympics heritage
Pakiki Theatre’s Who wants to be an Olympian? project will explore the sporting heritage of the Olympics and Paralympics with young people in Newham.
Projects
The Olympics 2012 Legacy Songbook
Newham Music Trust will create a music programme to help Newham’s schools explore the positive impact London 2012 had on the area.

Videos
What do we mean by heritage?
Publications
Areas of Focus - Year 2 evaluation report
News
£2.7million funding for Grimsby Youth Zone
Projects
Celebrating 100 years of Port Talbot’s sporting heritage
South Wales' Port Talbot Harriers has received a £9,200 grant to celebrate the running and multi-sport club’s 100-year history.
Projects
GRCF2020 Cody Dock's Green Recovery Challenge
Gasworks Dock Partnership is regenerating Cody Dock in the lower Lea River to transform it in a vital wildlife corridor in Newham, East London.
Publications