Community heritage

Celebrating our community heritage can help bring people together, feel pride in where they live and save stories and traditions.

Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have awarded over £500m to 26,700 community and cultural heritage projects across the UK.

What do we support?

We help people who are researching and sharing the history of a community or of a place.

We also fund projects which combine different types of heritage in a particular location.

Project ideas

Our funding could help people:

research the impact of a historical event on their town. They could then share their findings through displays, talks and online
investigate the names on a war memorial
crowdsource documents and photographs linked to the LGBT+ community, creating an online archive and exhibition
set up an audio trail around a range of buildings, parks and monuments in a town
enable a youth group to research their local history and create an animated film about their learnings

How to get funding

Our National Lottery Grants for Heritage programme is open for applications, with refocused priorities for 2021-22.

Find out more and apply

A blacksmith hitting metal, surrounded by a spray of sparks

News

Help us shape the future of heritage funding and strategy

UK Heritage Pulse is a collaborative research project for the UK’s heritage sector, creating a broad and diverse community – and we want you to be part of it. The information you share through our quarterly UK Heritage Pulse surveys will help shape our strategy and funding approaches. In return, you

09/11/2021

A variety of people enjoying a park with a lake

Thomson Park, Burnley. Credit: Burnley Borough Council

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Thriving Places

We are committed to supporting heritage projects that create better places to live, work and visit.

Hub

How to consider environmental sustainability in your heritage project

We expect the highest standards of environmental sustainability in all the projects we fund – and there are lots of ways to get started.

Programme

Local Places for Nature

A capital grant scheme to enable communities in Wales to restore and enhance nature. Grants up to £250,000 available.

Sustainability award 2021 winner: Penzance Jubilee Pool

Stories

Could you be the Sustainable Project of the Year 2022?

The National Heritage Lottery Fund is sponsoring the sustainability category at the Museums + Heritage Awards for a third year running – entries are now open for 2022.

The current Lord Leycester Brethren. Credit: Kevin Fern

News

A new chapter for the Lord Leycester Hospital

National Lottery funding – announced ahead of Remembrance Sunday – means former soldiers and their stories will continue to have a historic home in Warwick.

11/11/2021

News

How we’re working towards an ambitious vision of inclusive heritage

The Review, launched in June 2020, drew on internal expertise and evidence, commissioned external research and examined best practice in the heritage sector and beyond. We set out to define an ambitious vision of inclusive heritage for ourselves and the sector. It was led by Andrew White, Director

25/08/2021

News

Full steam ahead for the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

North Wales’ largest tourist attraction has secured a £3.1million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.

15/10/2021

News

Coastal communities to help wildlife of Dee Estuary

Cheshire Wildlife Trust to receive a £540,000 grant for conservation project bringing together communities in the North of England and Wales.

13/10/2021

A photo of a wall painting, showing a lighthouse with the word 'hope'

A photograph from the project titled 'Hope'. Credit: Derrick Kerr

Projects

Picturing the Past: access to heritage for excluded groups in Scotland

A participatory photography project is supporting disabled people and those from socially deprived areas to engage with their local and national heritage.

08/03/2020

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

17/11/2021

Volunteers in ‘The Wilderness’ garden. Credit: MHA

Projects

The Wilderness: Saving Nature’s Heritage To Improve Wellbeing

Despite challenges during the pandemic, The Wilderness project shows how older people’s wellbeing can be improved by actively restoring and engaging with natural heritage.

28/11/2017

Projects

Celebrating Our Black Heroes: The story of John Archer

The Black Heroes Foundation staged a short play at Battersea Arts Centre about John Archer, the first Black Mayor of London, elected in 1913.

12/10/2021

News

Spotlight to shine again on Leeds’ favourite building

Victoria Hall in Leeds is to receive a £250,000 grant for restoration, helping to bring investment in the North of England's heritage to more than £1.9billion.

29/09/2021

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How we're tackling climate change

In our corporate plan we have committed to play our part in tackling climate change – both within our organisation and in our grant giving.

Netball games with Sported charity. Credit: Sported NI

Projects

Sport in the Community: Shaping Northern Ireland for 100 Years

Sported Foundation have been awarded a £24,861 National Lottery grant to explore the history of sport and how it plays a part in Northern Ireland's identity.

26/07/2021

One of last year’s grantees: Tin Shed Theatre company

Stories

15-Minute Heritage grant programme for local heritage in Wales re-opens

Communities across Wales can now apply for grants between £3,000 and £10,000 to help celebrate local heritage.

Marquess of Anglesey's Column

News

Latest National Lottery funding opens up access to heritage

More than £14million has been awarded to projects that will help a wider range of people benefit from heritage.

05/08/2021

Aerial view of Plymouth coast with lighthouse and dramatic sunrise

Site of the new marine park at Plymouth. Credit: Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Photography

News

Heritage Horizon Awards: £50million to five life-changing projects

From the Scottish mountains to England's southwest coast, these big heritage ideas champion environmental, community and cultural heritage as part of our Heritage Horizon Awards.

13/07/2021

Three people look down over a valley with mountains in the distance

Braemar view. Credit: Cameron Cosgrove

Projects

Cairngorms 2030: people and nature thriving together

We have awarded nearly £12.5million to a life-changing project aiming to preserve the UK’s biggest National Park, bringing communities together to help nature and improve wellbeing.

13/07/2021

Site of the new marine park at Plymouth. Credit: Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Photography

Projects

Building Plymouth Sound, the UK’s first National Marine Park

We are granting £9.5million to support the creation of Plymouth Sound's 'Park in the Sea', helping communities and tackling the effects of climate change.

13/07/2021

Community heritage

What do we support?

Project ideas

How to get funding

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