Areas of Focus

Child playing on a beach with families attending a beach scavenger hunt

A seashore scavenger hunt at Tendring, one of our Areas of Focus

Throughout 2019–2024 we delivered targeted support to selected places across the UK by increasing access to our funding and helping to deliver positive outcomes through their local heritage.

What is an Area of Focus?

In our Strategic Funding Framework 2019–2024 we identified 13 places – ‘Areas of Focus’ – that had historically received lower levels of investment from us and displayed the highest evidence of need based on data from the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

This was in response to National Lottery player consultation, which highlighted a desire to see money raised by The National Lottery targeted towards communities who would benefit the most from funding.

The 13 places:

Brent (London and South)
Corby (Midlands and East)
Enfield (London and South)
Knowsley (North of England)
Inverclyde (Scotland)
Luton (Midlands and East)
Newham (London and South)
North-East Lincolnshire (North of England)
North Lanarkshire (Scotland)
Neath Port Talbot (Wales)
Rhondda Cynon Taff (Wales)
Tendring (Midlands and East)
Walsall (Midlands and East)

Our work in these areas

Our work was guided by a vision for heritage to support thriving places and communities. This vision continues under our 10-year strategy, Heritage 2033, and our Heritage Places initiative.

Throughout 2019–2024 our teams worked with a wide range of stakeholders in the 13 areas – from Local Authorities, to heritage, community and voluntary sector organisations – to identify the best way to deliver positive outcomes through heritage.

In practice, this included a range of activities to support local organisations with access to our funding:

partnership working, including with other funders
community and micro-grants schemes
the ability to solicit or fast-track grant applications where a time-limited opportunity presents itself, such as significant government or other partnership funding
commissioning specialist support or capacity building for organisations delivering heritage projects for the first time

Looking to the future

The legacy of our work in these areas will continue. Although we’ve identified new places in need of our support under Heritage 2033, organisations in our Areas of Focus can continue to apply for funding and celebrate the heritage of their places.

Explore the impact of our work in the Areas of Focus below.

A diverse group of people standing around a garden bed looking at a captured bee as part of an identification workshop

Publications

Areas of Focus year 5 evaluation report

We’ve explored the latest impacts of our targeted funding for under-served places across the UK, what’s working and where there’s room for improvement.

A person teaching a young child about past events and showing them an old type writer

Child learning at the Black Country Living Museum. Credit: Richard Jinman

Projects

Our Heritage: supporting D/deaf children in Walsall

Families of children with D/deafness or hearing impairments took part in social activities that taught them about local heritage, traditions and skills passed down through generations.

23/01/2020

A group of young people perform an Indian classical dance called Bharatanatyam.

Performers at the Global Roots Festival organised by Knowsley Young Producers. Photo: Knowsley Council.

Blogs

How targeted support has helped Knowsley's heritage thrive

As Knowsley celebrates its 50th birthday, our Engagement Manager, Shanna Lennon, highlights how heritage is thriving in the borough.

13/05/2024

Two young boys taking part in a performance with two women. Photo credit: Andrew Baker.

Publications

How our targeted funding is improving confidence and collaboration

In the fourth year of our Areas of Focus initiative, we examine how our support is benefiting communities and their heritage in our 13 target areas.

People with high visibility jackets, clipboards and binoculars walking within an urban nature spot in Newham, London

Publications

Dedicated time and investment is increasing application success in under-served places

We take a look at the progress we’ve made through our Areas of Focus programme three years in, and what we still need to do to meet future goals.

People standing in a garden, watching a speaker talk about bumblebees

Bee ID workshop

Projects

Bee Inspired creating a buzz in Walsall

Bee Inspired aims to support bumblebee populations and aid nature's recovery through habitat creation and restoration at the new Bumblebee Conservation Hub.

28/04/2022

An exhibition case at the Museum of Enfield with objects on display

Objects telling the history of Enfield. Credit: Museum of Enfield.

Projects

Your Museum of Enfield

Looking to the future, the Museum of Enfield is investing in a digital collections database and recruiting volunteers to understand and open up access to local heritage.

09/11/2022

Four people stand in a woodland holding gardening tools

Volunteers improve access to ancient woodlands. Craig Gwladus project in Cilfrew.

Videos

Apply for heritage grants in Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is one of Wales’ largest funders of heritage, providing grants from £3,000 up to millions of pounds. One of our ambitions is to deliver targeted support for our Areas of Focus – places that have historically received lower levels of investment from us, including

A black and white image of a brass band marching through the streets of a packed town centre.

Corby Pole Fair 1982. Credit: Glyn Dobbs

News

Corby – a town with a centuries-old royal tradition

The famous Corby Pole Fair – which takes place only once every 20 years – has received National Lottery funding for an extra special Queen’s Jubilee event.

01/06/2022

Newham family being photographed during Newham Heritage Month. Credit: Newham Heritage Month

Projects

London Borough of Newham

Newham Heritage Month is an annual heritage festival that celebrates the borough’s local heritage, led by the community for the community.

24/08/2020

Six people posing for a picture in front of a Jazz music archive, including posters and frames

Engagement Manager Dawn Bainbridge (centre) on the job – visiting a jazz archive project

Blogs

Luton: A vibrant, diverse town with a rich heritage identity

Our Engagement Manager for England, Midlands & East, Dawn Bainbridge, tells us about our work and investment into Luton’s heritage – one of our 13 Areas of Focus.

03/05/2022