Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities

Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities

Investing in diverse heritage
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 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.

Handmade gold jewellery with red and green gemstones displayed on an intricately carved stand
Handmade gold jewellery with red and green gemstones Kat Gollock

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.

Part of the display at Reading Museum
Part of the display at Reading Museum

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.

Victoria Park school pupils and teacher who took in the Memories of Spice from Smethwick project
Victoria Park school pupils and teacher who took in the Memories of Spice from Smethwick project

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.

Two volunteers handle objects from the collection with a visitor
Object handling sessions enable visitors to engage more closely with the collections

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.

Children taking part in arts and crafts session
Children taking part in arts and crafts session

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.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.