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.

Blogs

Teen Digital Takeover: getting young people into museums

Today is the Kids in Museums Teen Digital Takeover: when young people take over the social media accounts of museums, galleries and heritage sites across the UK. The 2018 Audience Agency Museums Audience Report identifies 16-24 year-olds as one of four key museum audiences. However, it also

16/08/2019

Stories

Helping all young people get hands on with nature

We spent a day in Sydenham Hill Wood, south London, where theories about wellbeing are guiding young people's interactions with our wild places.

Eight young people from the Don't Settle project

Hub

Children and young people

Blogs

Why communities are essential to sharing the stories of Pride

These significant and inclusive events raise the profile of all sorts of LGBT+ lived experiences, celebrate activism and build stronger alliances. They increasingly involve people of all ages, cultures and faiths in publicly sharing differing identities. Alongside Stonewall’s 50th anniversary this

05/07/2019

A blog by Rosie Gibson, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Social Media Manager

Blogs

Ways to meaningfully involve young people in heritage

We believe involving young people in heritage projects is vital - but it can be tricky. Here are some ideas.

04/07/2019

Stories

Changing lives: St Fagan's course helps Tom beat anxiety

Tilly the dog helps Tom Jenkin tackle his anxiety. But it was a National Lottery-funded lambing course which gave him the confidence to aim for a career as a vet.

Stories

Changing lives: volunteering helps Ben turn away from trouble

The youth club at the Galley Centre offered the young people of Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, a reason to keep off the streets and out of trouble. But when bored teenagers, including some of 17-year-old Ben's friends, vandalised the centre, the youth club was closed down. It left them with nothing to do

Stories

Changing lives: Jade's journey from care to college

In her 22 years, Jade has experienced more hardship than most people encounter in a lifetime. Born to a heroin addict mother, Jade spent most of her childhood in the care system. Asked about the happy times in her childhood, Jade is unequivocal: the years living with her grandma in Trimdon village.

An illustration by Walter Crane for the story of Puss in Boots

Projects

The Three Bears 'and other English Tales'

Young people from refugee communities discover the pastimes of Victorian children through nursery rhymes brought to life by Walter Crane.

28/03/2018

Jack Pulman and friends

Projects

Diary of a Dude: Bringing Jack Pulman's First World War Diary to Life

This project explores the diary of Jack Pulman, a first-hand account of life as an overseas serviceman during the First World War.

31/07/2018

Projects

Young people with disabilities explored disability stories from the First World War

For the Zebedee Troupers – Abled Not DISabled project, young people with disabilities discovered the role disabled people played during the two world wars.

17/05/2018

Booklets displayed in a glass display case at an exhibition

Projects

Kashmiri Lives

Recording the culture of the Kashmiri community in Greater Manchester through the collection of memories.

25/05/2017