Children and young people

Heritage has a crucial role to play in enriching the lives of children and young people, creating a more inclusive society.

Since 1994, we are proud to have invested over £60million across the UK in projects working with children and young people. This includes the £10m Kick the Dust programme.

We are committed to supporting greater inclusion, diversity, access and participation in heritage – including for younger generations. We know that children and young people can play a significant role in creating innovative and exciting heritage projects that speak to them.

Explore some of our work below and find inspiration for your project, then discover whether your idea is eligible for funding.

A large group of people sitting on a roundabout all holding flags for different countries of the world

News

Applications open for One Young World Heritage Fund scholarships

In partnership with One Young World, we are offering 10 young leaders in Northern Ireland the opportunity to attend the One Young World Summit 2023.

11/09/2023

My School, My Planet activities.

Projects

My School, My Planet: supporting schools and community groups to improve Walsall's natural heritage

My School, My Planet is helping 16 Walsall schools and community groups to learn about and improve their natural spaces and mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.

21/07/2022

Children stand next to pysanka egg display for Eurovision celebrations

Children with the pysanka egg display for Eurovision.

News

Eurovision fever in full swing across Liverpool City Region

Thanks to £250,000 of National Lottery funding, we're supporting a host of activities as part of the Eurovision 2023 celebrations.

11/05/2023

A close up of a bumblebee on an orange gerbera flower head

A bumblebee on a flower head.

Stories

The plight of the bumblebees and how we can save them

Bees help to provide us with a third of our food globally but are in rapid decline. Our New to Nature trainee Aydan shares some tips on how we can help secure a future for bees.

A still from the video showing an animation of wild meadow and pollinating bees.

A still from the animation by Brent school children and Alternative View Studios.

Projects

Making Brent wilder – brought to life by primary school children

Two primary schools in Brent have come together to learn about biodiversity, nature and habitats as part of a project to grow new wildflower meadows.

09/02/2022

Black and white studio photo from 1923 of three women posing in a 'frieze'

Frieze, 1923

News

Pioneering portrait photographer Dorothy Wilding celebrated in new exhibition

Works by the photographer – who took the iconic portrait of the young Queen Elizabeth II featured on UK stamps – go on show in Gloucester thanks to National Lottery funding.

08/03/2023

Image of person with long dark hair and dark clothing taking a picture on a mobile of a display of music gig posters at The Museum of Youth Culture

Display of gig posters at The Museum of Youth Culture

Stories

Future-proofing museum collections: four Dynamic Collections successes

We look at four projects getting underway in museums, libraries and archives that are working innovatively to make the most of their collections.

Image of people standing in a line in a countryside setting holding signs reading It's OK 2 B U

The slogan ‘It’s OK 2BU’ became an emblem to represent what it means to be out on the Quantock Hills. Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme

Blogs

Learnings from an LGBTQ+ project: creating pride in the countryside

Jem Gibson shares how they engaged young gender-diverse people with a natural heritage project and created a sense of place and belonging.

06/02/2023

A group of children wearing wellies and coats explore a woodland

Children explore a mature woodland

News

Over £1million invested in Welsh woodlands, with more funding available

Six projects to create or improve woodlands for local communities to use and enjoy are receiving funding from The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG).

07/02/2023

Ardal O’Hanlon presents the An Tobar team with their National Lottery Award. Credit: Bill Smyth Photography.

News

An Tobar is Northern Ireland’s National Lottery Project of the Year

The wellness centre and social farm in Silverbridge, south Armagh has won a National Lottery award for helping young people explore the natural and cultural heritage of Brian’s Wood.

07/12/2022