Community heritage
Since 1994 we have awarded £460million to more than 24,100 community and cultural heritage projects across the UK.
What do we support?
We fund projects that are researching, conserving and celebrating the heritage of a community or place.
These projects could include lots of types of heritage, such as people celebrating living customs or improving a historic green space. What's most important is that the project involves and benefits the community.
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- research the impact of a historical event on their town, and share their findings through displays, talks and online
- investigate the names on a war memorial
- crowdsource documents and photographs linked to the LGBTQ+ community, creating an online archive and exhibition
- set up an audio trail around a range of buildings, parks and monuments in a town
- enable a youth group to research their local history and create an animated film about their learnings
For more inspiration, see the stories below or browse projects we've funded.
How to get funding
If you have an idea for a project, we would love to hear from you.
Projects
Keesbury Manor in Cawood: from manor house to market garden
Volunteers from Cawood in Selby have been trained as heritage detectives to investigate the archaeology of their local moated manor site and the surprising importance of gooseberries for the development of the village.
Projects
History of Chinese People in Reading
The history of Chinese migrants in Reading, so far undocumented, is now available to all thanks to a heritage project spanning multiple generations.
Projects
Brothers Behind Bars: HMP Low Moss explores the experiences of the Great War's conscientious objectors
A group of prisoners attending the Learning Centre at HMP Low Moss explored stories of the First World War, and of those incarcerated as conscientious objectors, by using music, art, drama and creative writing.
Projects
'Animal feed to gun oil' – industrial history of BOCM and its impact on community life
Animal feed to gun oil is a yearlong project to discover the Selby’s industrial heritage and share the stories with the local community.
Projects
Gateway To Our Heritage - Mynedfa i'n Treftadaeth - Coedpoeth War Memorial Centenary Project
Led by Coedpoeth Community Council, this project was designed to discover more about the names listed on Coedpoeth War Memorial and restore the War Memorial Park gates.
Projects
Black Poppies Exhibition; Southwark and the black British First World War heritage
This project explored the lesser-known story of the black contribution to the First World War.
Projects
Friends of Bowling Park - Preserving our heritage for future generations
Friends of Bowling Park have developed and trained their members to protect the park for the future.
Projects
Back-a-yard
This project was designed to give young people the opportunity to preserve the heritage of the African Caribbean community living in Newport.
Projects
Each One, Teach One
The project brought together young and older people to explore the built heritage of Hulme and Moss Side from the 1950s to the present day.
Projects
Seeing our History: Living with Sight Loss in Edwardian Edinburgh and Lothians
Seeing Our History uncovered the life histories of blind and partially sighted people living in the Edinburgh area between 1903 and 1910.
Projects
A War Unheard
Young drama enthusiasts formed the Eden Court Collective, a theatre company that set out to explore and share the untold stories of warfare.
Projects
Working The War
A group of young people researched the personal stories of families who worked in the local torpedo factory during the First World War.