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)
Visiting the 1950s hairdresser at Beamish Museum. Credit: Nigel Roddis
Celebrating community heritage can help people come together, feel pride in where they live and save stories and traditions.
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.
![Changing Lives: Bishop Auckland brothers take castle by storm Robinson brothers outside Auckland Castle](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/yr-14-04418_billyjoeandjohn.jpg.webp?itok=Gwursha7)
Stories
Changing lives: Bishop Auckland brothers take castle by storm
The Robinson brothers had never visited nearby Auckland Castle until an HLF-supported project saw them step through its doors for the first time.
![Oasis Oasis](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/oasis_1995_stefan_de_batselier_.jpg.webp?itok=e1_MMkPZ)
Profiodd Oasis y Stiwdio Rockfield ym 1995
News
Students 'Roll With It' at Rockfield
Young people are about to look back – but certainly not in anger – as they embark on a new project to uncover some of Wales’s best kept musical secrets.
!['What's the story, Rockfield glory?' Llun o Liam a Noel Gallagher o fand roc Oasis](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/oasis_1995_stefan_de_batselier_.jpg.webp?itok=e1_MMkPZ)
Recordiodd Oasis eu halbwm "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" yn Stiwdio Rockfield ym 1995
News
What’s the story, Rockfield glory?
A new project led by local sixth formers is aiming to capture the numerous musical memories of Rockfield Studios in Monmouth.
![Mae’n bryd i ddatguddio hanes go iawn o Lesbiaidd, Hoyw, Ddeurywiol a Thrawsrywiol yng Nghymru. Lisa Power MBE, Ymddiriedolwraig Pride Cymru](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/lisa_power.jpg.webp?itok=aUGiw4AS)
Lisa Power, Ymddiriedolwraig Pride Cymru
Blogs
It’s time to unearth the real history of LGBTQ+ people in Wales
Lisa Power MBE, Pride Cymru Trustee member, explores the richness of the LGBTQ+ community’s heritage in Wales.
![Cychwyn addawol i 2016 gyda £3.5m i brosiectau Cymru Mae grantîon o Amgueddfa Ceredigion yn Aberystwyth yn dathlu eu grant CDL](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/ceredigion_museum.jpg.webp?itok=sezi_XWH)
Mae grantîon o Amgueddfa Ceredigion yn Aberystwyth yn dathlu eu grant CDL
News
Shedding the January blues with £3.5m for Welsh projects
2016 promises to be a great year for 16 projects across Wales, as HLF announces awards worth over £3.5million.
News
Exploring the stories of volunteering in Cardiff
Volunteering in Cardiff 1914-2014 is a two-year project that will explore the story of volunteering in the Southern Arc of Cardiff over the last century
News
Pembrokeshire’s young people explore the First World War through soldier’s poignant handwritten letters
A series of letters penned by a local soldier has been the focus of a powerful project led by Narberth Museum
News
Today’s Scouts unearth story of Anglesey Scout war hero from 100 years ago
A group of north Wales Scouts are on a quest to find out more about one of their original members who was awarded the highest military accolade during the First World War.
News
Monmouthshire’s Roman past brought back to life
The University of South Wales and HLF are taking Monmouthshire back to its Roman roots using state of the art 3D technology.
![Duncairn Centre for Culture & Arts – One Year On Reverend Bill Shaw, 174 Trust Director](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/revbillshaw.jpg.webp?itok=a4sAWX3s)
Reverend Bill Shaw, 174 Trust Director
Blogs
Duncairn Centre for Culture & Arts – one year on
Ahead of a visit by HLF’s new chair, Sir Peter Luff, Reverend Bill Shaw reflects on the first year of success at the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts.
News
10 things to do this Black History Month
October sees the country mark Black History Month. Find out how to get involved!
News
Monmouthshire gets ready to go Roman
The University of South Wales (USW) is about to take Monmouthshire back to its Roman roots.