Inclusive heritage
What is inclusion?
Inclusion is about taking action to ensure that contemporary society in the UK is better represented in your heritage project.
We believe everyone should be able to benefit from our funding, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, faith, class or income.
"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.
Scroll down the page to see some of the inspiring projects we have funded.
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.
Heritage of diverse ethnic communities
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.
Children and young people
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.
Disability heritage
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.
LGBTQ+ heritage
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 for wellbeing
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
Hello Future: Manchester Museum to reopen following ambitious transformation
Blogs
Learnings from an LGBTQ+ project: creating pride in the countryside
News
Heritage organisations collaborating to tackle workforce challenges
Projects
Culture Hubs: Record Stores, Black Music and the Windrush Generation
2Funky Arts are documenting the role of independent record stores of black origin as cultural hubs, focusing on black, African and Caribbean experiences from the 1950s to the present day.
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
Why you should involve people with lived experience in your heritage project
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.
News
An Tobar is Northern Ireland’s National Lottery Project of the Year
Projects
A Legacy of Kindness: Telling the Story of The Gender Identity and Research Education Society (GIRES)
Charity GIRES will carry out an oral history and archive project to record and celebrate the UK’s transgender and gender diverse community heritage.
Projects
Connecting Lewisham to its Migration Heritage
This 18-month project explores and shares the history of migration to the UK, in particular the stories of people who settled in Lewisham.
News
Creating an archive for historic disability rights movement
Projects
Bringing to life Roma stories in Newport, South Wales
The Roma of Newport, South Wales project is recording and sharing the personal stories, culture and heritage of the area’s Roma community.