We believe everyone should be able to benefit from our funding, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, faith, class or income.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Earlier this this year we reopened our National Lottery Grants for Heritage programme, and have already seen many fantastic projects coming through that will make a huge difference for people and heritage. The latest round of funding includes over £14m for projects that will make heritage much more accessible.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We’re delighted that thanks to National Lottery players we’re able to support these new projects, which will ensure as many people as possible, including those with access needs, can participate fully in heritage.

"Heritage has a crucial role to play in contributing to a more equal society, and throughout the pandemic we’ve seen the value that it can bring to people, communities and the economy.”

Find out more about five of the projects below.

Five fantastic projects 

Anglesey Column Trust

Anglesey Column Trust were awarded £872,800 to restore The Marquess of Anglesey's Column and Cottage in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Wales. This includes adding an accessible walkway and spectacular tree canopy viewing platform, so that people who are unable to climb the 115 steps can share much of the experience of being at the top of the column.

Natural History Museum, London

A £3.2m grant will be used to transform the museum into a welcoming and accessible green space. This includes developing new outdoor galleries and improving access to the gardens, with universal step-free routes across the site.

Nene Park Trust

The Trust will use their £1.9m grant to connect Peterborough's communities with nature and the outdoors. A range of activities include guided walks for people with visual impairments, companion walks for people who experience isolation and tree planting with the Sikh community. These will help many more people benefit from the heritage in Nene Park.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archives

The archives received a £3.96m grant to develop a new history centre and open up the archives to local communities. Learning resources and activities will be put on for under-represented groups including young people, people with early onset dementia, as well as Eastern European and black and minority ethnicity communities.

Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland were awarded £1.9m to create an accessible visitor centre in Cairngorms National Park. A series of community events and activities will focus on helping under-represented groups, including young people, to connect with the natural heritage of the area.

What else was funded?

Funding was also awarded to Durham County Council (£1,207,100), Sheffield City Council (£143,900) and Newport Minister (£869,100) for projects which include improvements to accessibility and digital programmes to connect the organisations with a wider range of people. 

Our mandatory outcome

Find out more about the outcomes we require from the projects we support, including our mandatory outcome: a wider range of people will be involved in heritage. You can also read our inclusion advice to help you meet this outcome.

Ros Kerslake explains why this is important: “We believe everyone should be able to benefit from our funding, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, faith, class or income. That’s why every project we fund must ensure that the broadest range of people as possible can be involved, and we remain committed to this as we build back from the coronavirus crisis.”