Community heritage | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

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A group of people with handmade props and decorations

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.

Explore our available funding

Architectural drawing of a stone and timber clad building showing how the historic stableblock will look when developed into The Gardeners' House

Architectural drawing of The Gardeners' House.

Projects

The Gardeners' House: connecting people with nature

£2.2million has been awarded to create a new green community hub in Penzance, housing 200 years of Cornwall’s natural heritage and a sensory garden.

30/11/2021

Person standing in front of a display of roller posters

Rosemarie with 'Neurodiversity through the ages' display

Projects

Neurodiversity through the ages

Educating local communities in Grimsby about neurodiversity throughout human history, including – the development of psychiatry as a discipline, the history of diagnoses and how society treated neurodivergent people.

22/07/2021

Person painting a rickshaw on display in the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum

Rickshaw being painted as part of the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum

News

Hello Future: Manchester Museum to reopen following ambitious transformation

Supported by National Lottery players, the museum will offer visitors the chance to see never-before-displayed collections, explore unique co-curated galleries and learn about extraordinary projects and research.

16/02/2023

Young people engage in the exhibition and listen to the interviews on a headset

A youth group visits the exhibition on Chinatown's heritage

Projects

Temporary exhibition presenting the history of the Chinese community in Chinatown 1960 to present

The project resulted in an exhibition to explore, celebrate and understand the heritage of the Chinese community in London’s Chinatown from the 1960s.

06/12/2018

Outside in the stunning setting of Glencoe

News

£1.4million to transform the Highlands’ Glencoe Folk Museum

The community-run museum is set to enhance its visitor experience and bring the village of Glencoe’s unique heritage alive for current and future generations.

16/01/2023

Two paper lanterns in the shape of houses in an outdoor parade

The Mile Cross estate in Norwich turned 100 years old in 2023.

Projects

The Common Lot's Living Heritage in Mile Cross

Community memories were gathered and shared to celebrate the centenary of England's oldest purpose-built social housing estate, Mile Cross in Norwich.

17/02/2022

the exhibition space at The Peacemakers Museum

The Peacemakers Museum.

Projects

New Peacemakers Museum explores community journey from conflict to peace

A new community heritage museum has opened at the Gasyard Centre in Spring 2024.

26/11/2019

Four-wheel-drive ‘Tramper’ scheme, launching at Parc Cefn Onn in 2023

Four-wheel-drive ‘Tramper’ scheme, launching at Parc Cefn Onn in 2023

Projects

‘Into the garden and beyond’ – improving visitor access to Parc Cefn Onn

A £454,000 grant is enabling people to enjoy improved access to the Grade II listed historic park in Cardiff.

24/06/2014

Three people hold an award

Ardal O’Hanlon presents the An Tobar team with their National Lottery Award. Credit: Bill Smyth Photography.

News

An Tobar is Northern Ireland’s National Lottery Project of the Year

The wellness centre and social farm in Silverbridge, south Armagh has won a National Lottery award for helping young people explore the natural and cultural heritage of Brian’s Wood.

07/12/2022

The exterior of Bank Hall in Bretherton, Lancashire

Bank Hall in Bretherton, Lancashire

News

Lancashire’s Bank Hall restored to former glory

Thanks to National Lottery support, the Grade II* listed Bank Hall has completed its extraordinary renovation journey and can welcome visitors to explore its heritage.

06/12/2022

A woman's hands holding a cassette tape. She has bangles on her wrists and is wearing a red cardigan.

For some, cassettes were a way to keep in touch

Projects

Uncovering the history of long-distance communication for migrants in Scotland

While many were using audio cassettes to listen to their favourite mixtape, for some South Asians in Scotland they were essential for communicating with their family.

25/10/2022

A stone church with a spire, in a town

St John's Church, Worksop

Projects

St John's Church pairs spire repair with Worksop community activities

An eco church in Nottinghamshire is making urgent repairs to their spire, inviting the local community to engage with the church’s heritage, and creating a social isolation café.

13/10/2022