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
Manchester Link to West African textiles through ABC wax prints
The project will identify and record, interpret and explain the history of West African textiles designed and produced by ABC Wax in Manchester from 1900’s until the present day.

Projects
Capturing 1940s-1960s stories of Nigerian immigrants to Manchester
This project captured the unrecorded and less well-known experiences of the Nigerians who came to Manchester between 1940 and 1960.

Projects
Panjab Connections
National Museums Scotland worked with the Glasgow Gurdwara and Sikh Sanjog to explore Sikh heritage through the history of the boy Maharaja.

Projects
Journey to Justice: Footsteps to Freedom in the North East
Young people have uncovered the history behind social justice in Tyneside.

Projects
History of Chinese People in Reading
The history of Chinese migrants in Reading, so far undocumented, is now available to all thanks to a heritage project spanning multiple generations.

Projects
Discovering Black heritage in Toxteth, Liverpool
The L8 Untold Project will engage volunteers in uncovering and recording hidden histories of Britain’s oldest Black community.

Projects
Victoria Park Primary Academy - Memories of spice in Smethwick
The role of spices in shaping local culture, cuisine and customs has been captured thanks to a community history project in Smethwick, Sandwell in the West Midlands.

Projects
In Touch - Museum Volunteer Accreditation Programme
Two museums worked closely with local agencies and community groups to open up volunteering opportunities to people who would not usually engage with heritage.

Projects
Welcoming young people to historic houses
The National Trust welcomed local families to four London properties and trained volunteers and staff to make them feel welcome.

Projects
Refurbishment of Monkwearmouth Station Museum
Monkwearmouth Station Museum is housed in a Grade II-listed building, under ownership of Sunderland City Council.

Projects
Capacity Building and Cultural Ownership - the V&A in partnership with culturally diverse communities
Through new partnerships with diverse ethnic communities, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (V&A) sought to encourage cultural ownership of its collections and develop heritage skills for people within and outside the museum.