Today, Friday 6 May, we’re taking the campaign on the road - hitting the streets of Birmingham in an open top bus. Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re offering young people, youth groups and heritage partners the opportunity to take part in a free alternative tour of Birmingham's heritage. 

[quote=Vanessa Harbar, Head of HLF West Midlands]“This is a great opportunity to get a feel for the fantastic, varied heritage of Birmingham.”[/quote]

Vanessa Harbar, Head of HLF West Midlands, said: “This is a great opportunity to get a feel for the fantastic, varied heritage of Birmingham, and to hear about these wonderful projects allowing young people to explore the history of the youngest city in the UK.”

HLF Chair, Sir Peter Luff, is joining the tour, and said: “I’m delighted to have the chance to explore Birmingham’s hidden heritage in the company of such passionate and enthusiastic guides. Young people will look after our important heritage in the future so it’s vital that we help them discover why and how it matters now.”

The bus will be visiting projects supported by HLF across Birmingham, including:

• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery first opened in 1885. It is housed in a Grade II* listed building. with over 40 galleries to explore, including the Birmingham: Its People, Its History gallery
• Yesterday’s Dreams – Friction Arts: Yesterday’s Dreams enabled young people to explore their personal heritage through discovering family members' memorable stories, and interpreting them through art, map making and performance. An exhibition will be held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in July 2016
• City of Colours – Our Musical Roots: Our Musical Roots is a cross-cultural, youth-led art project exploring Birmingham’s rich musical heritage, developed by the City of Colours youth panel
• Jewellery Quarter – Coffin Works: The Grade II* listed Coffin Works was built in 1894, making some of the finest coffin fittings in the world. A £1million grant from HLF helped to rescue the building and relaunch the Coffin Works as a heritage attraction and arts venue
• Sampad – My Route: My Route was Sampad’s two-year community heritage project which documented the history around Stratford Road in Birmingham, from the 1940s to the present day

Get involved

Follow the tour throughout the day on Twitter: @HLFWestMids and @HLFRoutes2Roots.