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Community heritage

Community heritage

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.
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.

Explore our available funding
Richard Bellamy, Pennaeth CDL yng Nghyrmu
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.
Liz Ellis, Ymgynghorydd Polisi Cymunedau ac Amrywiaeth
Liz Ellis, Ymgynghorydd Polisi Cymunedau ac Amrywiaeth

Blogs

All-inclusive heritage adventures

Liz Ellis has been finding out about projects involving people with learning disabilities.
Professor Mark Connelly
Professor Mark Connelly

Blogs

Understanding the shadows of the Somme

With one year until the Centenary of the Battle of the Some, Professor Mark Connelly reflects on the far-reaching impacts of the battle and explores some of the stories waiting to be uncovered.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.