Community heritage
![Visiting the 1950s hairdresser at Beamish Museum. Credit: Nigel Roddis The interior of a 1950s hairdresser's shop. A visitor is having their hair styled by a stylist in vintage clothing. A child sits in a high chair next to the visitor.](/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_desktop/public/media/imgs/Visiting%20the%201950s%20hairdresser%20at%20Beamish%20Museum%20credit%20Nigel%20Roddis%202.jpg.webp?itok=9ra5SSfo)
Since 1994 we have awarded £460million to more than 24,100 community and cultural heritage projects across the UK.
What do we support?
We fund projects that are researching, conserving and celebrating the heritage of a community or place.
These projects could include lots of types of heritage, such as people celebrating living customs or improving a historic green space. What's most important is that the project involves and benefits the community.
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- research the impact of a historical event on their town, and share their findings through displays, talks and online
- investigate the names on a war memorial
- crowdsource documents and photographs linked to the LGBTQ+ 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
For more inspiration, see the stories below or browse projects we've funded.
How to get funding
If you have an idea for a project, we would love to hear from you.
Videos
Inspiration for your heritage project
![Andrew White, Director of Wales](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/Andrew%20White%20profile%20photo.png.webp?itok=CX4km1HQ)
Blogs
How ‘small’ grants can make a big impact for communities
News
£2.5million awarded to first 11 Heritage Places projects across the UK
![The Roma Heritage Project team Three people working on the Roma Heritage Project.](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/roma_heritage_project_team_europia_credit_joanna_rajs.jpg.webp?itok=6dlYYOQN)
Projects
Exploring and recording Manchester’s Roma heritage
The Roma Heritage Project will work with local people in Manchester to share traditional dishes and record oral histories from Roma communities.
![The left side of the image shows a traditional Traveller wagon, painted with decorative designs, and the right side of the image shows a man leading a pony and trap which a girl is riding](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/armagh_roma_traveller_support_activity_2.jpg.webp?itok=qIHF87k8)
Projects
Roma and Irish Travellers: A Shared Story
People from different cultures and backgrounds came together for workshops and celebration events about Roma and Irish Traveller cultural heritage organised by Armagh Roma Traveller Support.
![Three musicians with guitars and an accordion and four women dancers wearing traditional Eastern European dress.](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/romane_cierhenia_musicians_and_dancers_ando_glaso_roma_heritage_web_size.jpg.webp?itok=wnRqJ4fB)
Projects
Roma Empowerment Through Heritage
This pilot project trained volunteers including young Roma people to record heritage and ran a Roma cultural heritage festival.
![A historic black and white photograph of a group of Traveller people with infants selling flowers](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/flower_sellers_new_forest_new_forest_gypsy_roma_traveller.jpg.webp?itok=mCtX-L8u)
News
How we’re helping to save the heritage of community traditions and ways of life
![Strong Women mural, St Helens People standing in front of a ceramic mural that spells out the words Strong Women](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/strong_women_of_st_helens_by_carrie_reichardt_install_produced_by_heart_of_glass_2023_image_credit_radka_dolinskadscf7787.jpg.webp?itok=sRpdzIjV)
Projects
Celebrating the social history of women through public art
The Strong Women project aims to capture the untold stories of women in St Helens and Knowsley and celebrate their contributions through street murals.
![Four people pose with leaflets behind large letters spelling 'Belfast' surrounded by foliage and props](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/belfast_24_web_size_2.jpg.webp?itok=eWyGhxc-)
News
We’re supporting Belfast 2024’s year of culture and creativity
![Dancers perform an Indian classical dance called Bharatanatyam at the Global Roots Festival in Knowsley. A group of young people perform an Indian classical dance called Bharatanatyam.](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/global_roots_festival_knowsley_young_producers_credit_knowsley_council_11_3.jpg.webp?itok=jP7u2ypB)
Blogs
How targeted support has helped Knowsley's heritage thrive
![Act for Action CIC A group of people with handmade props and decorations](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/photo_credit_-_act_for_action_cic_1.jpg.webp?itok=7mnwAuCP)
Projects
Supporting people in Knowsley to explore their heritage
The Knowsley Golden Thread project will champion inclusivity and enable groups, organisations and local communities to drive their involvement in heritage.
Blogs
Queer Heritage South: what we’ve learned about running LGBTQ+ heritage projects
![a ruined stone windmill building in the countryside](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/saintfield_community_heritage_park_mill_site.jpg.webp?itok=nJS9uY1C)
Projects
Transforming Saintfield’s Windmill Field into a community heritage park
A National Lottery windfall for Saintfield Community Association will provide much needed free-to-access green space in the historic County Down village.
![Museums and Heritage sign at the awards ceremony](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/museums-and-heritage-awards.jpg.webp?itok=GQbsHOeF)
News