Cultures and memories
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 which help to explore, save and celebrate the traditions, customs, skills and knowledge of different communities.
This cultural heritage is sometimes referred to as intangible or living heritage. This is because it is constantly changing and kept alive when practiced or performed.
We also fund projects which document and share people’s memories. This often involves capturing oral histories and ensuring they are accessible now and in the future.
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- research and share oral traditions, such as storytelling or local dialects
- train others in traditional skills and crafts, from dry stone walling and blacksmithing to basket weaving and textile making
- research the origins of culture, such as music, theatre or dance, and create performances influenced by past styles
- share the history and fun of celebrations, festivals or rituals with new audiences, from games and cooking to carnivals and fayres
- capture accounts of traditional knowledge or pass it on, such as woodland management or home remedies
- record the stories of ordinary people through oral histories, for example about growing up, migration or work
- retell people’s memories about a place or event, such as a long-stay hospital, the miners' strikes or the punk movement
How to get funding
If you have an idea for a project, we would love to hear from you.
Projects
The Windrush Intergenerational Project
Young people at Pentrehafod School explored the experiences of 'Windrush generations' in the UK since 1948.
Projects
Pride in the Past
Pride in the Past explores and celebrates the LGBTQ+ heritage and archaeology of the city of Chester.
Projects
Youth Work and Women of Influence in Scottish Communities
YouthLink Scotland worked with five youth groups to celebrate Scotland’s forgotten women and research the achievements of influential women in their communities.
Projects
Windrush at 70: recording and sharing migration stories
Through its Windrush 70 and Beyond project, Kingsway Project celebrated the 70th anniversary of the ‘Empire Windrush’ by recording and sharing Caribbean migration stories.
Projects
Punk in Walsall: life and legacy
Walsall celebrated Punk’s 40 year anniversary with interviews and an exhibition.
Projects
Are You Here. A pop-up museum of LGBT history
This project established a pop-up museum of LGBT+ history, curated by young people that celebrates four decades (1976-2016) across Merseyside.
Projects
Disabled young filmmakers will bring to life characters from throughout Newcastle Castle’s history
Beacon Hill Arts worked with Newcastle Castle to help young disabled and autistic people engage with their local heritage through film and music.
Projects
Young people explore Birmingham's musical history
The Routes2Roots campaign inspired the City of Colours youth panel to explore Birmingham’s musical history.
Projects
New College Worcester students help collect memories
Students collected stories and discovered what life was like being blind or partially sighted in the past.
Projects
Basildon and the Somme
Local people investigated how the conflict in Europe affected the community of Basildon in 1916.
Projects
The life and times of a South Shields town house
The story of a historic 19th century town house is being used by a charity to help older people to broaden their horizons.
Projects
Exploring Norwich's Medieval Churches Today
Norwich is home to the largest collection of medieval churches in Northern Europe. This project shared their stories with new audiences through a three day, city-wide event.