1. Home
  2. What Is Heritage?
  3. Thriving Places

View as PDF

Thriving Places

Thriving Places

People sitting in a sunny park, near a bandstand
Pearson Park in Kingston upon Hull
We are committed to supporting heritage projects that create better places to live, work and visit.

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

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently prioritising projects 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. 

Three people standing in a field of wild flowers, one is bending down touching the flowers
Drew Bennellick, our Head of Land, Sea and Nature, and Harriet Bennett, Land Management Officer for the Chilterns Landscape Partnership project, with Andrew Stubbings, of Manor Farm, an example of a connected landscape. Photo: Oliver Dixon.

News

£150million funding to enhance and protect the UK’s world-class landscapes

Our strategic initiative, Landscape Connections, will support long-term projects to boost nature recovery and connect more people to our most treasured landscapes.
a large ship docked on the river in Grimsby
The Ross Tiger docked outside the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre in North East Lincolnshire. Photo: Ellen Hunter.

News

£2.5million awarded to first 11 Heritage Places projects across the UK

The grants – ranging in value from £90,000 to £250,000 – will help projects develop resources and plans to bring their ambitions for heritage and communities to life in their local area. These Heritage Places are beginning a decade-long process of change with tailored support from our engagement
A group of young people perform an Indian classical dance called Bharatanatyam.
Performers at the Global Roots Festival organised by Knowsley Young Producers. Photo: Knowsley Council.

Blogs

How targeted support has helped Knowsley's heritage thrive

As Knowsley celebrates its 50th birthday, our Engagement Manager, Shanna Lennon, highlights how heritage is thriving in the borough.
A group of people with handmade props and decorations
Act for Action CIC, recipients of a community heritage grant from One Knowsley. Photo: Act for Action CIC.

Projects

Supporting people in Knowsley to explore their heritage

The Knowsley Golden Thread project will champion inclusivity and enable groups, organisations and local communities to drive their involvement in heritage.

The western end of Sauchiehall Street at dusk: on the right people are walking and cycling by a People Make Glasgow banner and on the left a group of people are standing outside a bar
Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, which will be revitalised with input from the community and local organisations.

Projects

Sauchiehall Street: Culture and Heritage District

A long-term effort to regenerate Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street has received support through our Heritage Places initiative.

A windmill with houses in the background set against a blue sky

Basic Page

Strategic initiatives

We support and invest in heritage in multiple ways. Find out more about some of our planned interventions and how we’ll deliver them.
An aerial view of Albert Avenue outdoor swimming pool in Hull
Albert Avenue outdoor swimming pool in Hull. Photo: Esteem.

Projects

A lido revolution: championing outdoor swimming

The Pooling Resources project, led by Future Lidos, has developed and delivered a digital toolkit to support the revival of lidos across the UK.

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