I knew this was a brilliant job when I started a year ago; I knew when I opened the envelope and there was the letter offering me the position as Chair of HLF East of England Committee that I was in for an amazing experience and that it was a great privilege. But I don't think I really understood just how good it was going to be.

The range of heritage

Still, 12 months on, I am constantly amazed by the extraordinary range and breadth of the projects the National Lottery supports. I thought when I joined that heritage was a relatively straightforward word: now I realise what a complex and elastic word it is and how much it can encompass.

Centuries old buildings, inspiring landscape and wildlife, the memorabilia from a local football team, the restoration of a local park, stories from a nineteenth century workhouse, an early industrial workshop: they all belong under the umbrella of heritage, helping individuals and communities to discover their past and understand their own identity.

Being a committee member

It's not always the most glamorous of jobs (I don't know how many hard hats I have worn, or how many pairs of wellies or steel capped boots I have donned) but the endless opportunities to learn more are extraordinary. Regularly working with people who are absolute experts in their field is such a treat and also slightly daunting as you come to realise just how much there is in the world that you don't know!

[quote]"I think the abiding impression of my first year is the impact National Lottery funding can have on individual lives."[/quote]

A few weeks ago I spent two fascinating hours in a classroom listening to the story of how the origins of a rare species of pear are being tracked down using DNA. A completely absorbing time and a detective story told with passion, and of course I hadn't realised how ignorant I was about pears. If, like me, you’re not sure where to start on discovering pear heritage, take a look at the story of the Old Warden Pear.

The impact of National Lottery funding

I think the abiding impression of my first year is the impact National Lottery funding can have on individual lives. Frequently it is quite a small grant or a modest scheme that can make the biggest difference: the obvious pride volunteers take in their work and the fulfilment a project can bring them will not be easily forgotten.

So at the end of my first year I have spent some time reflecting on how we might ensure we can go on making that sort of difference to people's lives and I think wellbeing is one of the areas we might develop further.

There is an impressive body of research now indicating the links between heritage (in its widest meaning) and wellbeing, so in a sense it is an easy fit. Embracing this area and building on work already done could encourage new partnerships to support National Lottery projects, which will in turn achieve greater impact and value for money.

One shining example of this impact is Quay Place, which saw the revival of a medieval landmark as a wellbeing centre in Ipswich.

In a way the most valuable thing I learnt during the year was the phrase "radical heritage".  It inspires all sorts of exciting possibilities.