Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities

A black adult and several children look at a display on slavery in a museum

London, Sugar and Slavery gallery at the Museum of London. Photo: Museum of London.

Heritage belongs to us all - which is why we want to help tell everyone's stories.

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.

A colourful sculpture of an hibiscus flower

Hibiscus Rising sculpture by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA.

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.

03/10/2023

Gopika Jayasree.

Blogs

How becoming a Digital Hero transformed my career and my confidence

Hear from Gopika about how taking part in the Heritage Trust Network’s Digital Heroes project transformed her future.

08/11/2023

Life-sized statue of a woman in a small, landscaped garden

More than a cell – statue of Henrietta Lacks (1920-1951) by Helen Wilson-Roe in Royal Fort Garden, Bristol. Photo: Bhagesh Sachania Photography.

Stories

Bringing Henrietta Lacks’ story to life in Bristol

Explore how the University of Bristol is spotlighting Henrietta’s controversial contribution to medicine and inspiring future scientists.

Forest Lane Park showing pond with wildlife, trees and historic building

Forest Lane Park in Newham.

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.

12/09/2023

The film, A Light that Never Fades will be a resource to educate about black heritage, equality and diversity.

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.

01/08/2023

Three women from diverse ethnic communities are stood and smiling at the camera

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.

25/10/2022

A visitor listens through an exhibition headset in front of a display of information about faith

The Faith Museum, Bishop Auckland.

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.

23/04/2013

A group of children posing for a photograph, some holding family objects

Children at a workshop held during the project.

Stories

Cocorico! Exploring the heritage in our homes

A Congolese community organisation in Swansea brought people together to learn about and share their heritage through personal items.

An event at Newham Chinese Association. Photo: Newham Chinese Association.

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.

02/08/2023

Volunteers tend to a planter in a residential area

Local volunteers maintain a planter in Riverside. Photo: SRCDC.

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.

01/11/2021

On the left is a framed photograph of a woman on the right there is a woman in a light brown dress looking at the picture

A portrait of Twimukye Mushaka by photgrapher Karen Gordon is one of the pictures in the exhibition at Kelvingrove.

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.

21/02/2022

Members of the Chinese Labour Corps.

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.

03/03/2016