Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities

At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we support all sorts of projects which explore and celebrate the heritage of diverse ethnic communities.
We want to help the sector itself to better reflect the UK population. That's why we make it mandatory that all of the projects we fund ensure a wider range of people are involved in heritage.
The terms we use
Some of the terms we use include:
- diverse ethnic communities, or ethnically diverse communities. In Scotland we use MECC (minority ethnic and cultural community). We have revised our usage of the term BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic).
- LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities)
We use these terms because we believe they are widely understood. Identities can be complex and intersectional, and we are also aware that for many these terms may feel inadequate or limiting. We keep the language we use constantly under review.
Get inspiration for your project
We want to support projects that make the stories of the UK’s four nations more inclusive of everyone’s heritage. Get inspired by the projects below and find out more about applying for our funding.

Projects
Hibiscus Rising: celebrating cultural heritage inspired by the legacy of David Oluwale
A community engagement programme will accompany a public artwork, Hibiscus Rising, created by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA to honour David Oluwale.

Blogs
How becoming a Digital Hero transformed my career and my confidence

Stories
Bringing Henrietta Lacks’ story to life in Bristol
Projects
Restoring Forest Lane Park for people and nature
Newham Council has received initial support for a proposed £1million project to transform Forest Lane Park, a green space in the heart of Newham.

Projects
Arthur Wharton: the world’s first black professional footballer and sprint champion
A new short film will share the story of the world’s first black professional footballer and the first official fastest man on the planet.
Projects
Residency opportunities for women in Scotland's ethnically diverse communities
A programme of museum residencies for women will offer upskilling opportunities and improve inclusivity in the heritage sector.
Projects
Restoring and reinterpreting Auckland Castle
This bold heritage-led regeneration project aims to create inspiring experiences and learnings on faith for visitors to County Durham.
Stories
Cocorico! Exploring the heritage in our homes
Projects
Malaysian Angels of the NHS
Newham Chinese Association are gathering oral histories of 20 Malaysian nurses who arrived to the UK to work for the NHS from the 1950s onwards.

Projects
Breaking barriers to getting involving in greening Riverside, Cardiff
South Riverside Community Development Centre (SRCDC) involved local people in nurturing nature and protecting wildlife, building leadership skills and creating a local plan for nature.
Projects
Putting Ourselves in the Picture – preserving Scotland’s migration history
Migrant Voice is empowering migrants in Scotland to tell their stories, ensuring they are recorded, recognised, and shared with the wider community and for future generations.
Projects
Forgotten Faces of the First World War: The Chinese Labour Corps
The Meridian Society and documentary filmmaker Peng Wenlan collected oral histories for a documentary about the Chinese men who worked as labourers on the Western Front during the First World War.