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.
News
How Durlston Country Park is helping people overcome isolation
News
Historic hall built by forgotten Georgian businesswoman to be saved
Blogs
The role of heritage in uncertain times
News
Inspirational women in heritage reveal their top career tips
News
Leeds Eulogy project to celebrate Jamaican lives
Blogs
LGBTQ+ heritage: building an inclusive future
Stories
Changing lives: Jade's journey from care to college
Projects
Black History live
Black History Live revealed the stories of Kent’s African and Caribbean residents of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Projects
Caribbean takeaway and oral histories shared
The stories of 10 Caribbean elders from the Windrush generation, who arrived in the UK between the 1940s and 1960s, have been recorded and shared for the first time.
Projects
Young people with disabilities explored disability stories from the First World War
For the Zebedee Troupers – Abled Not DISabled project, young people with disabilities discovered the role disabled people played during the two world wars.
Projects
Our Social Networks: Capturing the nature of friendship and intimacy for people with learning disabilities
This Mencap Cymru project captured the history and nature of friendships and relationships experienced by people with a learning disability in Wales.
Projects
All-ability access to Garnock landscape
Many more people will have the opportunity to access the River Garnock’s natural beauty spots and experience the health benefits being outdoors can bring.