Community heritage
Act for Action CIC, recipients of a community heritage grant from One Knowsley. Photo: Act for Action CIC.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
Reverend Bill Shaw, 174 Trust Director
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
Richard Bellamy, Pennaeth CDL yng Nghyrmu
Blogs
Diving in to heritage at Pontypridd Lido
Last week the much-loved Pontypridd Lido re-opened after almost a quarter of a century. Our new Head of HLF Wales, Richard Bellamy, explains why its story is so important to him.