The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will be at the BBC The Great British Story event at Ickworth House this weekend to announce details of a new £1million grant programme for local heritage projects.  

All Our Stories is a new £1m grant programme designed to help local communities explore and celebrate their past. All Our Stories has been developed in support of The Great British Story – A People’s History. Presented by Michael Wood on BBC Two from Friday 25 May, the exciting new history series will explore the history of our nation through the eyes of ordinary people over the last 1,600 years, and will be accompanied by a BBC Learning road show during May-July giving visitors a unique opportunity to find out more about their own personal history, as well as that of their local area – starting with Ickworth House on Sunday 20 May.

The HLF East of England team is hoping that local groups who are interested in finding out how they can uncover their local history will join them at Ickworth House, from 10am to 5pm (no pre-booking needed), where they will be on hand to provide advice and information about how to apply for lottery funding.
 
All Our Stories is a new, simple, funding scheme with grants available ranging from £3,000 - £10,000 - developed so everyone can get involved in their heritage. From researching local historic landmarks, learning more about customs and traditions to delving into archives and finding out the origins of street and place names - this new programme will give everyone the chance to explore their heritage and share what they learn with others.

Stuart Hobley, Development Manager for HLF in East of England. said: “This free event - featuring workshops, talks and hands-on activities at one of the most historical places in the UK - will really bring alive the history of Suffolk. At HLF one of our key aims is to make history accessible to everyone by providing the funds people need to explore the stories, customs and traditions that are important to them. We’re delighted to be at Ickworth House on Sunday and to be able to offer the chance for people to learn more about the All Our Stories grant so they can do just that.”

Abigail Appleton, Head of Commissioning for BBC Learning, said: "Having the HLF with All Our Stories at BBC Learning's showcase events will give community groups a powerful way to take their learning journeys further. I look forward hugely to seeing what is uncovered.”
To find out more about these grants and how to apply, visit the HLF stand at BBC Learning events throughout the summer, or go to the All Our Stories page. 

To find out more about The Great British Story events, the TV series and to download a free The Great British Story fact pack visit the BBC website.

Notes to editors
 
BBC Learning
BBC Learning is hosting a number of The Great British Story events across the UK. HLF will be present at showcase events with advice to support applications under All Our Stories. These events will provide opportunities for people to discover their place in history, learn about their surnames and uncover the history of their local area. BBC and partner events will be listed on BBC Things to Do page from May.

All Our Stories grants
Applications will be accepted from a wide range of organisations including community groups, heritage organisations and charities. The application process is simple:   

• Go to the All Our Stories programme page 
• Enter the details of your organisation  
• Answer a series of simple questions including, what you want to do, how you will do it and how much money you will require
• Applications need to be submitted online by Tuesday 31 July 2012 and applicants will receive a  decision by October 2012. 

Expert university help for your project
HLF is working in partnership with universities throughout the UK to offer grant applicants support with their activities. This could include help from a local history expert, an archaeologist, or an archivist. This help has been made available through the AHRC’s Connected Communities programme whose aim is to understand through research the changing nature of communities and the role of communities in sustaining and enhancing our quality of life. A call for participation was issued towards the end of 2011 and 21 organisations were selected following peer review.
 
Further information

HLF Press Office: Vicky Wilford, Communications Manager, on 020 7591 6046 / 07968 129 241 or email vickyw@hlf.org.uk.