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 support all communities to explore and share their heritage, enriching people’s lives and increasing the diversity of heritage workforces, leadership and audiences. That's why under our Heritage 2033 investment principles inclusion, access and participation must be part of every project we fund.
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)
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. This describes a range of ethnic groups or people with nomadic ways of life who are not from a specific ethnicity.
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
Explore the projects below and find out more about applying for our funding.
Projects
1947 The Partition Project
Young people interviewed older British Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs about their experiences of the Partition of India and created an exhibition and workshops for schools and community groups.
Projects
Young Muslim Aberdeen
A group of local young Muslims explored how their heritage is archived in two major city museums, in a project run by Young Muslim Aberdeen.
Projects
Garnethill Synagogue, Glasgow - restoration
The 19th-century tiled floor of Garnethill Synagogue was repaired by a specialist tiler working with a young apprentice, and is now enjoyed by all those who visit.
Projects
International Haggis Journey
International Womens Group explored the connection between Scottish haggis and similar dishes from countries such as Syria, Iran and Egypt.
Projects
A View from Here - Housing Heritage: Dispersal and Diaspora
Four communities researched, documented, and shared the cultural and social history of tower blocks in the city.
Projects
Chinese Heritage
A first for the West Midlands, Chinese Lives in Birmingham was created to capture the hidden histories of Birmingham's Chinese community.
Projects
An Independent Guide to Exploring the South Downs National Park
This volunteer-focused project produced a guide to encourage diverse ethnic communities from urban centres to visit the South Downs.
Projects
Cotton Threads: Bury's Industrial Links to Slavery
A local museum and archive worked together to reach wider audiences by developing an exhibition exploring the transatlantic slave trade through the papers of a Victorian cotton spinner.
Projects
Exploring the heritage of migrant communities along the number five bus route
Taking inspiration from the number five bus route, Sampad documented the heritage of communities living in the culturally-rich suburbs of Birmingham.
Projects
Exploring the development of British Asian women's literature
The archive project engaged new audiences with social heritage in Slough, especially those from South Asian communities.
Projects
Desh - Homeland
The project aims to bring together several generations of South Asians living in Bristol to identify and record their heritage. Desh means Motherland or Homeland in Hindi and Urdu.
Projects
Burnley LGBT Heritage Project
The Burnley LGBT Heritage Project focused on capturing the hidden histories of LGBT+ communities to explore the life stories, experiences and memories of people living in the area.