Thriving Places

What we mean by place
‘Place’ can mean many things, and definitions vary depending on where you are or who you ask. But examples include a local community, a natural landscape or an entire city.
How heritage supports great places
Many areas across the UK have a ‘sense of place’ that inspires local pride and increases wellbeing.
Heritage sits at the heart of a place’s identity, adding depth, character and value. This can include buildings and monuments, landscapes, high streets and parks.
Heritage helps connect people and communities to a place and boosts local economic prosperity.
Our funding for heritage projects
We welcome projects that take a 'place-based approach'. Place-based working is about:
- identifying challenges and opportunities in the heritage of a place
- developing responses which bring about benefits for both the heritage and the place
- thinking beyond an individual project by considering how it relates to your local area and community
- partnering or coordinating with other organisations to increase the impact of your project
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made this way of working more important than ever. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on communities and local economies in places across the UK.
The heritage sector can play a leading role in their recovery, which is why we refocused our priorities for our National Lottery Grants for Heritage. We are now prioritising projects with outcomes that create better places to live, work and visit, and boost local economies.
See our funding programmes to find out how to apply.
A place funder, not just a project funder
We also support place-based working by:
- devolving decision-making, which enables locally based staff, with local expertise, to assess applications and make awards
- addressing under-representation in our funding of geographical areas experiencing deprivation
- working with local councils and others to connect our funding to wider local priorities
- working with national partners and agencies on major place-based initiatives
Running a place-based project
Need help or inspiration?
You can find useful guidance here:
And discover how heritage can create better places in the project examples below.

News
£193,502 awarded to local heritage projects across Wales

News
A new lease of life for Wickham Market’s community pub
News
Full steam ahead for the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

News
Nature Networks Fund: £7.2million to protect Wales’ threatened species and habitats

Projects
Green Valley Conservation and Heritage Project
A derelict site in Cynon Valley has been transformed into a community garden full of people, nature and wildlife – and is now the perfect place for boosting mental health.

Projects
Solicited Application for Birmingham XXII Commonwealth Games
Running from March to September 2022, the £12million festival will feature hundreds of artistic commissions, engaging a local and national audience with Birmingham’s cultural heritage.

Projects
Sport in the Community: Shaping NI for 100 Years
Sported Foundation have been awarded a £24,861 National Lottery grant to explore the history of sport and how it plays a part in Northern Ireland's identity.

Stories
15-Minute Heritage grant programme for local heritage in Wales re-opens

News
New grants to break barriers to accessing nature

News
Heritage Horizon Awards: £50million to five life-changing projects

Projects
HHA2019 Peatland Progress: A New Vision for the Fens
We have awarded more than £8million to this ground-breaking project that addresses climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss and the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Projects
HHA2019 Cairngorms 2030: people and nature thriving together
We have awarded nearly £12.5million to a life-changing project aiming to preserve the UK’s biggest National Park, bringing communities together to help nature and improve wellbeing.