Inclusive heritage
Using money raised by National Lottery players, we provide grants for heritage projects from £10,000– £10million to ensure that heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.
What is inclusion?
We believe everyone should be able to benefit from our funding, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, faith, class or income. Explore the stories below to see how organisations have thought creatively about making their projects inclusive.
"Heritage activities bring people and communities together in so many brilliant ways. We are constantly inspired by the many creative ways previously hidden histories are shared, helping us all learn more about each other and our differing personal lives, experiences and memories."
Liz Ellis, Heritage Fund Policy Project Manager for inclusion
The terms we use:
Some of the terms we use include:
- diverse ethnic communities, or ethnically diverse communities. In Scotland we use MECC (minority ethnic and cultural community). We have revised our usage of the term BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic).
- LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities)
We use these terms because we believe they are widely understood. Identities can be complex and intersectional, and we are also aware that for many these terms may feel inadequate or limiting. We keep the language we use constantly under review.
What we expect from projects
Inclusion, access and participation is one of four Heritage 2033 investment principles that guide our grant decision making. Every project we fund must take into account how they will support greater inclusion, diversity, access and participation in heritage.
We want to see every project taking steps to reach out to new people, to share heritage beyond their organisation, and to embed inclusive practice as far as they can.
In planning your project, ensure that everyone you work with feels a sense of welcome and belonging. Take a look at our inclusion good practice guidance for advice and ideas.
What you can expect from us
We want to make sure our funding is open and accessible to all. We have set out a plan to meet people’s access needs, from translation services to digital application support.
We support all sorts of projects which explore and celebrate the heritage of diverse ethnic communities.
We also want to help the sector itself to better reflect the UK population.
Since 1994, we are proud to have invested over £60million across the UK in projects working with children and young people. This includes the £10m Kick the Dust programme.
Disabled people are under-served in every area of the heritage sector, including people who are learning disabled, people with physical or sensory disabilities or those living with dementia or using mental health services.
We are working in partnership with disabled people to change this unfair situation.
Since 1994 we've invested over £12million across the UK in sharing stories of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities) heritage, creativity, activism and much more.
Heritage can build connectedness to where you live, to people around you or to a community online. It can support individual confidence and self-esteem, and provide opportunities to be mentally and physically active.
Heritage can also help us find meaning and purpose in our lives. Both are significant aspects in how we experience wellbeing.
Stories
Preserving the unique experiences and advice of people from the past
Blogs
Queer Heritage South: what we’ve learned about running LGBTQ+ heritage projects
Stories
LGBTQ+ heritage organisations share their advice on how to run great projects
Stories
Wales is Proud: a look into a national LGBTQ+ collection
Projects
Wild Mind LGBTQ+ natural heritage wellbeing workshops
The Wild Mind Project is restoring a neglected green space in Brighton through nature programmes for the young LGBTQ+ community.
Projects
Pride In Self, Pride In Place: the NHS and LGBTQ+ culture on the Isle of Wight
StoneCrabs Theatre is gathering oral histories to uncover the role of the NHS in the Isle of Wight’s LGBTQ+ culture between 1980 and 2000.
Projects
Creating Northern Ireland’s LGBTQ+ heritage archive
A collaborative effort will record and share Northern Ireland’s modern LGBTQ+ history.
Projects
I Me Us Boundless: sharing stories of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people in Cumbria
Through the collection of stories, this project will document the lived experiences of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people in Cumbria.
Projects
Wear it out: The culture and heritage of LGBTQ+ dress in Sussex, 1917-2017
This cultural heritage project explored how some people from LGBTQ+ communities have historically used clothing to express identity. It focused on Sussex in the time period 1917-2017.
Projects
Reawakening Dover's Maison Dieu
This internationally significant NeoGothic building will be accessible to the public for the first time in its 800-year history.
Stories
Involving disabled people in planning and evaluation makes heritage more inclusive
Stories
Inclusion, access and participation: eight ways to improve your project’s reach and impact
Projects
The Hidden Heritage of Wellbeing in the Community: co-creating oral histories of mental health care
Nottingham’s Middle Street Resource Centre celebrated 50 years of service by recording stories from its community with researchers at Nottingham Trent University.
Projects
Groundwork: sharing the untold stories of people with learning disabilities
This New Ground is supporting people with learning disabilities in Portsmouth to make their voices heard through oral history.
Projects
Our Heritage: supporting D/deaf children in Walsall
Families of children with D/deafness or hearing impairments took part in social activities that taught them about local heritage, traditions and skills passed down through generations.
Stories