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
Afro Solo
The Afro Solo UK project documented the story of African migration into Greater Manchester during the 1920s–1960s.
Projects
From Plantation to Pollock, from Kabul to Kennishead
Secondary school pupils conducted oral history interviews with former tenement residents and recent asylum seekers in Glasgow, bringing different generations and communities together.
Projects
Capturing the stories of London's Chinatown
The memories and life stories of the people who built and defined the character of London's Chinatown were captured and shared with younger generations.
Projects
The Arthur Wharton Heritage Project
This project told the story of the UK's first professional black footballer, with free educational resources exploring Arthur Wharton's heritage.
Projects
Brixton's Raleigh Hall Development
The derelict Grade II listed building in Brixton was turned into a permanent home for the Black Cultural Archive’s collection of historical material.
Projects
'Celebrating Highgate and Peter Stanford, Birmingham's First Black Minister'
Highgate Baptist Church researched the remarkable life of Peter Stanford, Birmingham’s first black minister.
Projects
Journey from Bangladesh to Birmingham
An oral history project recording the memories and experiences of people who moved from Bangladesh to Birmingham between 1940 and 1971.
Projects
Hadhari Oral History Project
The Hadhari project recorded memories from a local African-Caribbean care group in Derby, which were at risk of being lost forever.
Projects
How I Got Here - Journey to Fareham
The project focused on the exploration of maps and local archive material to illustrate the inter-generational journeys of people, from different cultural backgrounds and communities, who now live in Fareham.
Projects
Asian Traditional Games of early 20th Century (1900-1950)
The origins of traditional Indian games, the rules and how they changed after players traveled to the UK, were recorded in this intergenerational oral history project.
Projects
Let your elders speak
This project captured the personal histories of 10 residents at Beenstock Home who had lived through the pre- and post-Holocaust periods.
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