Heritage has a crucial role to play in enriching the lives of children and young people, creating a more inclusive society.
Over the past 25 years, we are proud to have invested over £60million across the UK in projects working with children and young people. This includes the £10m Kick the Dust programme.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is committed to making heritage more inclusive and accessible to a wider range of people and this includes the younger generations. We know that children and young people can play a significant role in creating innovative and exciting heritage projects that really speak to them.
Explore some of our work below and find inspiration for your project, then discover whether your idea is eligible for funding.
Stories
Advice: how to involve young people in heritage
Involve them from the start, treat them as equals and be open-minded about what heritage can be in the 21st century.
Getting work experience curating the 'Museum in a Jar' exhibition
Blogs
Kick the Dust Norfolk Journeys: helping young people into work
To celebrate World Youth Skills Day, discover how a heritage-themed work experience programme is helping young people to develop crucial skills and secure employment.
Blogs
Time for a change: outdoor learning for every child
The pandemic has shown us that education needs to value the outdoors and natural heritage more.
Exploring Trinidad and Tobago's natural heritage at Fort George, Port of Spain.
Blogs
Black History Month: breaking down barriers to nature for young Black people
Throughout my life, telling people my aspirations to have a career in wildlife conservation has often been met with surprise and disbelief.
Stories
Helping all young people get hands on with nature
We spent a day in Sydenham Hill Wood, south London, where theories about wellbeing are guiding young people's interactions with our wild places.
News
£7million legacy for nature and communities for the Queen’s jubilee
In June 2022, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. To mark the milestone, we’re committing £7m to help communities across the UK re-connect with nature and support young people to take their first step towards a career in natural heritage. "Not only will individuals from diverse
Design visual of the Natural History Museum garden. Credit: Feilden Fowles and J & L Gibbons
News
£3.2million for the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project
A major project will support wildlife in London and other UK cities through a biodiverse green space, scientific innovation and engaging young people.
Credit: Bentley Priory Museum
News
Podcasts: how the heritage sector is embracing the trend
Podcasts are on the rise. As well as engaging audiences who cannot physically visit a site, they can be a great way to continue delivering a project.
My School, My Planet at Whinhill Primary, Inverclyde
News
Nature restores hope for children disproportionately impacted by COVID-19
My School, My Planet worked with 49 school across the country from September to November 2020. It was delivered by Learning through Landscapes with a £275,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The programme aimed to help children re-engage with learning after a significant period away
Photo credit: Windsor Fellowship
Stories
Training and employment opportunities to build a diverse heritage sector
We’ve launched a programme in partnership with Windsor Fellowship to help Black, Asian and minority ethnicity (BAME) graduates kickstart their careers.
Stories
Advice: what is an 'inclusive' project?
Find out who is missing as an audience or on your team, make plans to involve them, and remember that being inclusive is an ongoing process.
Experimental photography at Llannon Cottage, Ceredigion
Blogs
Engaging young people in heritage from home
One Welsh project shares how they are continuing to involve young people in heritage, even under lockdown.
Blogs
International Women’s Day: Giving young women a voice in heritage
To celebrate International Women’s Day, two young women making their mark in heritage describe their experiences of a project at the Ulster Museum.
Blogs
Kick the Dust - what we learned in year two
Four years ago, we set out to change the way young people are involved in and experience heritage.
News
Boost for youth heritage thanks to £7million government investment
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is to distribute an extra £1.27m funding to its Kick the Dust programme, aimed at helping to involve young people in heritage.
Blogs
Young people show us how it's done
On #TakeoverDay, three volunteers tell us how they're shaking up the heritage world.
Blogs
Finding 'a home' in the heritage sector
Working as a black person in the heritage sector can be isolating. Connecting with peers has been essential.