Community heritage
![Visiting the 1950s hairdresser at Beamish Museum. Credit: Nigel Roddis The interior of a 1950s hairdresser's shop. A visitor is having their hair styled by a stylist in vintage clothing. A child sits in a high chair next to the visitor.](/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_desktop/public/media/imgs/Visiting%20the%201950s%20hairdresser%20at%20Beamish%20Museum%20credit%20Nigel%20Roddis%202.jpg.webp?itok=9ra5SSfo)
Visiting the 1950s hairdresser at Beamish Museum. Credit: Nigel Roddis
Celebrating community heritage can help people come together, feel pride in where they live and save stories and traditions.
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.
!['What's the story, Rockfield glory?' Llun o Liam a Noel Gallagher o fand roc Oasis](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/oasis_1995_stefan_de_batselier_.jpg.webp?itok=e1_MMkPZ)
Recordiodd Oasis eu halbwm "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" yn Stiwdio Rockfield ym 1995
News
What’s the story, Rockfield glory?
A new project led by local sixth formers is aiming to capture the numerous musical memories of Rockfield Studios in Monmouth.
![Mae’n bryd i ddatguddio hanes go iawn o Lesbiaidd, Hoyw, Ddeurywiol a Thrawsrywiol yng Nghymru. Lisa Power MBE, Ymddiriedolwraig Pride Cymru](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/lisa_power.jpg.webp?itok=aUGiw4AS)
Lisa Power, Ymddiriedolwraig Pride Cymru
Blogs
It’s time to unearth the real history of LGBTQ+ people in Wales
Lisa Power MBE, Pride Cymru Trustee member, explores the richness of the LGBTQ+ community’s heritage in Wales.
![Cychwyn addawol i 2016 gyda £3.5m i brosiectau Cymru Mae grantîon o Amgueddfa Ceredigion yn Aberystwyth yn dathlu eu grant CDL](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/ceredigion_museum.jpg.webp?itok=sezi_XWH)
Mae grantîon o Amgueddfa Ceredigion yn Aberystwyth yn dathlu eu grant CDL
News
Shedding the January blues with £3.5m for Welsh projects
2016 promises to be a great year for 16 projects across Wales, as HLF announces awards worth over £3.5million.
![Archwilio storïau o wirfoddoli yng Nghaerdydd Llun o gwirfoddolwyr yn gadael eu pencadlys yn Neuadd Eglwys Bresbyteraidd ar Blas Windsor ar eu ffordd i addurno (1966)](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/image_1.jpg.webp?itok=D7CHpQUU)
Gwirfoddolwyr yn gadael eu pencadlys yn Neuadd Eglwys Bresbyteraidd ar Blas Windsor ar eu ffordd i addurno (1966)
News
Exploring the stories of volunteering in Cardiff
Volunteering in Cardiff 1914-2014 is a two-year project that will explore the story of volunteering in the Southern Arc of Cardiff over the last century
![Narberth Youth Theatre Narberth Youth Theatre](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/lj-cktrt3ndwwciv9gzkub1ze8joxw6cycyqiqlymuy.jpg.webp?itok=_5GJro3l)
Narberth Museum has worked with Narberth Youth Theatre to produce the drama
News
Pembrokeshire’s young people explore the First World War through soldier’s poignant handwritten letters
A series of letters penned by a local soldier has been the focus of a powerful project led by Narberth Museum
![The Role of Snowdonia and Anglesey Scouts The Role of Snowdonia and Anglesey Scouts](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/v6mdohuh-d_p1rbb5ddwbx7smugy6ijqh0_eghgm_44-wzh_jlhw7_fnzgz7995gmghxkchnl5pug_nqt8ijng.jpg.webp?itok=xUPpqMlq)
1st Menai Scouts find out more about the First World War
News
Today’s Scouts unearth story of Anglesey Scout war hero from 100 years ago
A group of north Wales Scouts are on a quest to find out more about one of their original members who was awarded the highest military accolade during the First World War.
![Monmouthshire Gets Ready To Go Roman The Roman town of Caerwent, Monmouthshire](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/img_1987.jpg.webp?itok=Y3ueAphD)
The Roman town of Caerwent, Monmouthshire
News
Monmouthshire’s Roman past brought back to life
The University of South Wales and HLF are taking Monmouthshire back to its Roman roots using state of the art 3D technology.
Blogs
Duncairn Centre for Culture & Arts – one year on
Ahead of a visit by HLF’s new chair, Sir Peter Luff, Reverend Bill Shaw reflects on the first year of success at the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts.
![10 things to do this Black History Month Eric Lynch, Educator and Activist, leads a tour of Liverpool as part of the Continuing the Journey project](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/oh-12-11658_dsc_6544.jpg.webp?itok=M3SZzPsX)
Eric Lynch, Educator and Activist, leads a tour of Liverpool as part of the Continuing the Journey project
News
10 things to do this Black History Month
October sees the country mark Black History Month. Find out how to get involved!
![Sir Fynwy’n paratoi i fynd yn Rhufeinig! Sir Fynwy’n paratoi i fynd yn Rhufeinig!](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/img_1987_0.jpg.webp?itok=K9Cy4vgS)
Tref Rhufeinig Caerwent, Sir Fynwy
News
Monmouthshire gets ready to go Roman
The University of South Wales (USW) is about to take Monmouthshire back to its Roman roots.
![Mae gwirfoddolwyr wedi cofnodi atgofion cuddedig Mae gwirfoddolwyr wedi cofnodi atgofion cuddedig](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/img_9370_edited-1.jpg.webp?itok=2xvyCEVm)
Mae gwirfoddolwyr wedi cofnodi atgofion cuddedig
News
Hidden Now Heard project unearths our silenced heritage
Mencap's three year project is capturing memories of former residents and staff from Wales's long-stay hospitals.
![Bwrw gwreiddiau ym Mhenrhyndeudraeth Bwrw gwreiddiau ym Mhenrhyndeudraeth](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/t1.jpg.webp?itok=sPDdYK33)
Cyn Waith Powdwr, Cooke's, ym Mhenrhydeudraeth
News
Putting down roots in Penrhyndeudraeth
This Saturday there’s going to be a party in Penrhyndeudraeth – and there’s certainly plenty to celebrate, as youngsters embark on a new project to learn more about the former local munitions works that was once the largest explosives factory in Europe.