News and stories | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

An aerial view of Leas Lift on the cliff edge with town buildings above

The water balance cliff lift provides step-free access from the Leas to the seafront and Lower Coastal Park.

News

£4.8million funding boost to revive Folkestone Leas Lift

The rare surviving water lift, a remarkable example of Victorian engineering, will be returned to its original use connecting seafront and town.

06/11/2023

Two people on the bank of a waterway examining it and taking notes

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is exploring challenges around recruitment, retention and diversity of the conservation sector workforce.

Blogs

Creating space to innovate: celebrating our first cohort of Heritage Innovation Fund explorers

Innovation can be uncomfortable, and it takes the tenacity of intrepid explorers, says Kathryn Holland, who is working with our grantees to tackle heritage workforce challenges.

03/11/2023

An older woman and a young adult man looking at ceramics

Hampshire Cultural Trust staff member and volunteer at the Allen Gallery.

News

Seventeen organisations to test innovative ways of overcoming heritage workforce challenges

In the second phase of our three-stage Heritage Innovation Fund pilot programme, grant recipients will develop solutions to common problems facing the heritage sector.

01/11/2023

A flying bat in the roof space of a church

A Natterer's bat flying inside the roof of St Lawrence church, Radstone. Credit: Chris Damant, Bernwood Ecology.

Stories

All creatures great and small: helping church communities care for their bats

The Bats in Churches project helped over 100 ancient churches in England with their resident bats, bringing communities together and learning more about our threatened bat species.

An ariel view of the green space on Gloucester Cathedral grounds with people exploring

The new public green space welcomes visitors to Gloucester Cathedral. Credit Gloucester Cathedral.

Stories

Case study: Project Pilgrim

Life-sized statue of a woman in a small, landscaped garden

More than a cell – statue of Henrietta Lacks (1920-1951) by Helen Wilson-Roe in Royal Fort Garden, Bristol. Photo: Bhagesh Sachania Photography.

Stories

Bringing Henrietta Lacks’ story to life in Bristol

Explore how the University of Bristol is spotlighting Henrietta’s controversial contribution to medicine and inspiring future scientists.

Group of people wearing hard hats in a courtyard of historic building, Alice Billings House in Stratford

Alice Billings House. Includes Newham’s Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, Taryn Nixon and Selina Papa from the Heritage Fund, Creative Land Trust and Purcell’s team.

News

£800,000 funding awarded to support Newham’s heritage

From restoring an 1880s playhouse to creating a cycling heritage trail, projects across Newham will celebrate its diverse community heritage and create pride in place.

25/10/2023

Esther Fox holding a metallic cross-fingers award

Videos

Esther Fox is the National Lottery Awards Heritage Winner for 2023

The award recognises her incredible support and leadership to make museums more accessible.

Woodland near Machynlleth, cared for by Coetir Anian.

News

£4million now invested in Welsh woodlands, with more funding available

From restoring Anglesey woodlands to creating a 50-hectare mosaic of forestry in Powys, 10 more projects have received funding from The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG).

20/10/2023

A National Lottery scratchcard held in front of a large building with classical architecture and lawn

News

Sign up your project for National Lottery Open Week 2024

It’s a great way to acknowledge your Heritage Fund grant, reach new audiences and benefit from a UK-wide PR campaign!

17/10/2023

Torquay on the South Devon coast, with Torre Abbey in the foreground.

News

£200million funding for Heritage Places will boost local economies and pride in place

We’re forging long-term partnerships with towns and cities across the UK as part of a 10-year journey to help places thrive by unlocking the potential of their heritage.

08/10/2023

A group of children posing for a photograph, some holding family objects

Children at a workshop held during the project.

Stories

Cocorico! Exploring the heritage in our homes

A Congolese community organisation in Swansea brought people together to learn about and share their heritage through personal items.

Brunel's SS Great Britain in the dry dock. Photo: Adam Gasson / SS Great Britain Trust.

Stories

Case study: SS Great Britain – Voyage to Carbon Neutral

The SS Great Britain Trust's innovative decarbonising of the conservation system for the world's first iron ship jointly won Sustainable Project of the Year at the Museums + Heritage Awards.

An adult talks to a child wearing a head scarf.

Learning Through Landscapes delivered the My School My Planet project. Photo: Simon Hadley.

Blogs

How Walsall’s heritage is thriving

Our Engagement Manager, Natalie Osborne, shares the successful heritage work of Walsall – one of our 13 Areas of Focus.

28/09/2023

An aerial view of St. Conan's Kirk in Scotland.

St. Conan's Kirk, Argyll, Scotland Photo: Andrew Prins

News

£12.2million investment to help save UK’s historic buildings

From the only thatched ice house of its kind to the oldest picture house in Northern Ireland, we have awarded 12 heritage buildings life-saving support.

26/09/2023

A person holds an oyster in their hands.

Oysters are being restored to Conwy Bay. Photo: ZSL.

News

Applications open for £9.8million in new funding for restoring nature in Wales

Have you got an idea for a project to help nature and people in Wales thrive? Apply now through two new funds.

18/09/2023

Text on a blue background encouraging reader to vote now.

News

National Lottery Awards 2023 shortlist announced! Who will get your vote?

Nominations for Project of the Year recognise outstanding National Lottery-funded projects that are making a difference for people and heritage across the UK.

14/09/2023

A group of swimmers in red swimsuits jumping out of the water at Cleveland Pools

Swimmers celebrating Cleveland Pools being open for swimming once again.

Stories

Cleveland Pools opens for swimming after 40 years

The UK's oldest open-air swimming pool has reopened, following a £9.3million restoration project that brought the site back to life.

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