Community heritage

Act for Action CIC, recipients of a community heritage grant from One Knowsley. Photo: Act for Action CIC.
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.

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.

Eric Lynch, Educator and Activist, leads a tour of Liverpool as part of the Continuing the Journey project
News
10 things to do this Black History Month
October sees the country mark Black History Month. Find out how to get involved!

Tref Rhufeinig Caerwent, Sir Fynwy
News
Monmouthshire gets ready to go Roman
The University of South Wales (USW) is about to take Monmouthshire back to its Roman roots.

Mae gwirfoddolwyr wedi cofnodi atgofion cuddedig
News
Hidden Now Heard project unearths our silenced heritage
Mencap's three year project is capturing memories of former residents and staff from Wales's long-stay hospitals.

Cyn Waith Powdwr, Cooke's, ym Mhenrhydeudraeth
News
Putting down roots in Penrhyndeudraeth
This Saturday there’s going to be a party in Penrhyndeudraeth – and there’s certainly plenty to celebrate, as youngsters embark on a new project to learn more about the former local munitions works that was once the largest explosives factory in Europe.

Richard Bellamy, Pennaeth CDL yng Nghyrmu
Patrick Olner
Blogs
Diving in to heritage at Pontypridd Lido
Last week the much-loved Pontypridd Lido re-opened after almost a quarter of a century. Our new Head of HLF Wales, Richard Bellamy, explains why its story is so important to him.

Sgowtiaid 1af Porthaethwy ar Bont Menai
News
1st Menai Bridge Scout Group wins Heritage Lottery support
The 1st Menai Bridge Scout Group has received funding for a challenging project to explore the role of Snowdonia and Anglesey Scouts and Scouting during the First World War.

Mwynhau Lido Pontypridd Lido
News
Making a splash at the opening of Pontypridd Lido
Today sees the doors of much-loved Pontypridd lido re-open.

Liz Ellis, Ymgynghorydd Polisi Cymunedau ac Amrywiaeth
Blogs
All-inclusive heritage adventures
Liz Ellis has been finding out about projects involving people with learning disabilities.

Plas Aberglasne
News
Aberglasney inspiring the next generation of heritage gardeners
Aberglasney Restoration Trust is to create a 'miniature college' in Carmarthenshire to teach the young people to become heritage horticultural experts.

Professor Mark Connelly
Blogs
Understanding the shadows of the Somme
With one year until the Centenary of the Battle of the Some, Professor Mark Connelly reflects on the far-reaching impacts of the battle and explores some of the stories waiting to be uncovered.

Gerddi Aberglasney, Sir Gaerfyrddin.
News
£2.6million Heritage Lottery grants for Wales’ churches, wildlife and wells
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is investing £2.6million in projects across Wales. The National Lottery funding will provide much needed support for Wales’ heritage.