This has translated into nearly £173million invested in historic buildings and monuments, £150million to museums, libraries and collections and funding for over 90 projects to restore and conserve the North West’s public parks so that they can be enjoyed by current and future generations.

Our investment has not only revitalised museums, parks, historic buildings, landscapes and wildlife sites, but has given a new meaning to the heritage itself by preserving stories, cultural traditions and by getting more people directly involved in these fantastic assets.

The dedication of local volunteers is vital in preserving our heritage for future generations. Last year, more than 80% of the projects we funded helped generate a huge variety of volunteering opportunities - from fixing fells in the Lake District to helping bring Liverpool’s Florence Institute back into community use.

By investing in the historic fabric at the heart of our communities we have helped local economies to thrive, and define a new role for themselves.

In the North West, £346.6m of our awards have used heritage-led regeneration to transform deprived areas.

We also know that heritage can provide opportunities for the generations to mix and learn from one another, giving young people a very real sense of who they are and where they come from.

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of our Young Roots programme, through which HLF has awarded £3.6m to young people in the north west to explore and celebrate their heritage.

Through understanding our heritage we can inspire and fire the imaginations of future generations, bring people together and provide the foundation for a modern confident society.