Community heritage

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

Blogs

Why we need to tell untold stories

Dr Edson Burton shares his experience of growing up in a diverse community, the importance of sharing everyone's heritage and his work on The National Lottery-funded project exploring 100 years of activism in Bristol.

27/09/2022

Storm Troopers and Darth Vader surround a model of the Millennium Falcon

Millennium Falcon Exhibition

Stories

The National Lottery Awards 2022 are open! Who will you vote for?

Nominations for Project of the Year recognise outstanding National Lottery funded projects that are making a difference for people and heritage across the UK.

Paddleboarders in Royal William Yard, Plymouth

News

Community at the heart of first year of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park

Explore the progress of the project aiming to reconnect the people of Plymouth to the water that’s so intrinsic to its identity.

01/08/2022

Photograph of a young person sitting in the cockpit of a plane. Someone is passing him a helmet.

A trip to the RAF Museum.

Projects

Heritage Trips for Disadvantaged Young People

Young people with sickle cell disease and other genetic blood disorders and their families took part in social activities to experience local heritage, building confidence and connection.

27/05/2022

Colourful handmade poster for the In Plain Sight project. Rainbows, flowers and an eye decorated with LGBTQ+ colours can be seen

Projects

In Plain Sight: A Story of Gwen Lally

This Bradford-based project will explore the history and traditions of Gwen Lally – a queer historical figure and the first woman pageant producer in England

19/05/2022

A black and white image of a brass band marching through the streets of a packed town centre.

Corby Pole Fair 1982. Credit: Glyn Dobbs

News

Corby – a town with a centuries-old royal tradition

The famous Corby Pole Fair – which takes place only once every 20 years – has received National Lottery funding for an extra special Queen’s Jubilee event.

01/06/2022

Exeter Cathedral has received a £4.3million grant for their 2020s Development Appeal.

News

£5.5million awarded to conserve cathedrals and churches across the UK

From conserving magnificent stained glass windows to creating accessible facilities, these places of worship and community hubs will be thriving again – thanks to National Lottery players.

17/05/2022

Black Head Cliff Castle, one of the 40 Scheduled Monuments sites

News

Cornwall’s historic monuments protected thanks to funding partnership

The investment will help save 40 historic sites across Cornwall, spanning 4,000 years of history.

12/05/2022

Newham family being photographed during Newham Heritage Month.

Projects

London Borough of Newham

Newham Heritage Month is an annual heritage festival that celebrates the borough’s local heritage, led by the community for the community.

24/08/2020

Six people posing for a picture in front of a Jazz music archive, including posters and frames

Engagement Manager Dawn Bainbridge (centre) on the job – visiting a jazz archive project

Blogs

Luton: A vibrant, diverse town with a rich heritage identity

Our Engagement Manager for England, Midlands & East, Dawn Bainbridge, tells us about our work and investment into Luton’s heritage – one of our 13 Areas of Focus.

03/05/2022