The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is confirming that its £10million anniversaries funding is now fully open for business and is being supported by on-line guidance and expert advice for all potential applicants who have a relevant project in mind.

HLF announced last year that it was to set aside at least £10m over the next four years to fund projects marking some of the UK’s most important anniversaries and commemorative events. The money will be invested to ensure that those moments which form a central part of our national history are commemorated and understood.

Events such as the Diamond Jubilee, and the Olympic and Paralympics Games showed how events can bring the people of the UK together. This new funding reflects the fact there is enormous enthusiasm to provide more opportunities to foster the sense of community spirit and national pride that such events can inspire. It will help to highlight important historical dates that will resonate with people and communities right across the UK.

The funding will ensure that projects of all sizes can apply from smaller grants of a few thousand pounds up to grants over £2m.

Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of HLF, said: “Few will forget the most magical events of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, including an opening ceremony that celebrated UK culture and its achievements and highlighted major moments in our history. We also had the opportunity as a nation to unite people and celebrate excellence. There are many other key times of celebration or sadness from our past and from the diverse stories of these islands that have left a similar impression. This lottery investment will ensure that these pivotal moments, places or people will not be forgotten by future generations.”

Notes to editors

Details of funding for anniversaries can be obtained at our Funding for anniversaries feature. @heritagelottery, #hlfanniversaries.

Further information

Please contact Katie Owen, HLF press office, on 020 7591 6036, out of hours mobile: 07973 613 820.