Investing in LGBTQ+ heritage

Heritage has a crucial role to play in contributing to a flourishing, more equitable and inclusive society.

That's why inclusion, access and participation is one of the four investment principles that guide our grant decision making.

Since 1994 we've invested over £12million across the UK in sharing stories of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities) heritage, creativity, activism and much more.

If you've got an idea for a project, we'd love to hear from you.

The terms we use

At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we use the acronym LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer). The ‘+’ represents people who identify as non-binary, intersex, asexual and other identities.

We use these acronyms 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.

Four people stand in front of a train engine and hold a progress pride flag

Joanna Jarvis , Imogen Watmore, Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn and Harvey Barker holding Pride banner in front of HST loco in Great Hall, National Railway Museum, (NRM) York. © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

Stories

Mind the gap: uncovering missing stories from railway history

People, Pride and Progress is recording the experiences of LGBTQ+ workers to explore unheard perspectives on railway heritage.

Richard Kennedy stands in a living room in front of paintings and a bookshelf

Richard Kennedy was a founding member of Cara-Friend. Credit: Timothy O’Connell.

Projects

Founding Cara-Friend: Preserving At Risk LGBTQIA+ Heritage

18/02/2025

An exhibition and interviews celebrate the trailblazing founders and volunteers of Northern Ireland’s oldest LGBTQ+ charity.

30/09/2024

A yellow building on a city street with a writing saying Glasgow Zine Library

Stories

Preserving the unique experiences and advice of people from the past

Glasgow Zine Library is not only saving and sharing heritage but supporting the production of it for the future, too.

People wear colourful clothes and hold banners and rainbow flags at Isle of Wight Pride.

Pride celebrations on the Isle of Wight. Photo: Héctor Manchego.

Stories

LGBTQ+ heritage organisations share their advice on how to run great projects

We’re proud to be supporting projects that are saving the heritage of the LGBTQ+ community and sharing these stories to build understanding and inclusion.

a photo of David Sheppeard sitting outside against a glass wall. David has white skin, short brown hair and wears a dark shirt

David Sheppeard. Photo: Rosie Powell.

Blogs

Queer Heritage South: what we’ve learned about running LGBTQ+ heritage projects

Artist and producer David Sheppeard shares reflections and advice from his experiences working with heritage.

24/04/2024

A person standing in front of a glass display of pride flags, t-shirts, leaflets and other memorabilia in a glass case

Mark Etheridge, Curator of LGBTQ+ History in front of 'Wales is… Proud' display.

Stories

Wales is Proud: a look into a national LGBTQ+ collection

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum of Wales is actively collecting objects, documents, photographs and oral histories to fully represent the LGBTQ+ community and lived experience in Wales

Two south asian people stand next to a banner with text: Club Kali Where East Meets West made possible with Heritage Fund

In-person and online activities will bring people together to share memories of the club’s past. Photo: Club Kali Network.

Projects

Where East meets West: Celebrating South-Asian LGBTQ+ Heritage through Club Kali Network

We’re helping the UK’s first safe space for LGBTQ+ people of South Asian heritage to preserve and showcase their history dating back to 1995.

08/05/2024

Two people look at an overgrown pond, one person is wearing waders

Restoring a green space in Brighton. Photo: The Wild Mind Project.

Projects

Wild Mind LGBTQ+ natural heritage wellbeing workshops

The Wild Mind Project is restoring a neglected green space in Brighton through nature programmes for the young LGBTQ+ community.

02/08/2023

Isle of Wight Pride. Photo: Héctor Manchego.

Projects

Pride In Self, Pride In Place: the NHS and LGBTQ+ culture on the Isle of Wight

StoneCrabs Theatre is gathering oral histories to uncover the role of the NHS in the Isle of Wight’s LGBTQ+ culture between 1980 and 2000.

24/03/2023

Leaders of the project pose for a group photo

From left to right: Scott Cuthbertson, Director of The Rainbow Project, Mukesh Sharma, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland NI Committee Chair, Cara McCann, Director of HERe NI and Adam Murray, Community Development Manager at Cara-Friend.

Projects

Creating Northern Ireland’s LGBTQ+ heritage archive

A collaborative effort will record and share Northern Ireland’s modern LGBTQ+ history.

06/09/2022

Three young people making a film, one person is holding a microphone, another a clapperboard, and one person is waiting to be interviewed

Young people making a film as part of the I Me Us Boundless project. Photo: Pride In North Cumbria.

Projects

I Me Us Boundless: sharing stories of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people in Cumbria

Through the collection of stories, this project will document the lived experiences of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people in Cumbria.

12/01/2023

Queer Looks exhibition at Brighton Museum. Credit: Tessa Hallmann

Projects

Wear it out: The culture and heritage of LGBTQ+ dress in Sussex, 1917-2017

This cultural heritage project explored how some people from LGBTQ+ communities have historically used clothing to express identity. It focused on Sussex in the time period 1917-2017.

20/12/2016

Two people preparing for a party. One person is having a temporary transfer applied to their face.

Two people preparing for a party hosted by Homotopia. Photo: Mike Parry.

Projects

The Power of Holly Johnson

This project aims to explore the rich history and lasting influence of Holly Johnson and the LGBTQ+ community on the cultural fabric of Liverpool.

04/05/2023

People look at an exhibition of LGBTQ+ people's stories

StoneCrabs Theatre held an exhibition of LGBTQ+ stories.

Projects

Out On An Island: 100 years of Isle of Wight LGBTQ+ oral histories

StoneCrabs Theatre collaborated with the community on the island’s first LGBTQ+ oral history project.

20/03/2019

Alison Kay, National Railway Museum’s Archives Manager and Ashlynn Welburn, Oral History Project Archivist at Eurostar. Photo: JK Doran

Projects

People, Pride and Progress: recording the histories of LGBTQ+ railway workers

Through the collection of real-life stories, this project aims to spotlight the LGBTQ+ community’s contribution to the railways for the first time.

11/04/2023

A group of black performers in colourful costumes at Stirling Castle

OMOS performers at Stirling Castle. Photo: Washington Gwande

Projects

Black heritage, performance and Shakespeare in Scotland

Inspired by the untold history of Black performance in Scotland, this project celebrates modern black LGBTQ+ performance and widens understanding and engagement with Black Scottish heritage.

16/03/2021