Investing in disability heritage

At the Heritage Fund, we believe everyone should be able to benefit from our funding.

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. Under our Heritage 2033 investment principles inclusion, access and participation must be part of every project we fund.

Disabled people are far more likely to be digitally excluded, face barriers to communication, and feel more socially isolated. Even before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions were more likely to experience poor mental health and wellbeing.
We know that this is something that heritage projects can help to address.
Ewan Bachell, Project Manager at The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Here are some of the inspirational projects run by disabled people or delving into the history of disability in the UK. If you've got an idea, we'd love to hear from you.

Image of disabled person in 1990s, protesting with plaque saying public transport means me too

Activist Keith Armstrong in the 1990s, campaigning for accessible public transport. Credit: Shape Arts

News

Creating an archive for historic disability rights movement

Disability-led arts charity Shape Arts will showcase the movement's rich heritage and personal stories – coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act in 2025.

02/12/2022

The Science Museum in London had the highest score in the Heritage Access 2022 benchmark tool for online access information.

Stories

Report: museums and heritage sites need to improve online accessibility information

A research project led by charity VocalEyes is calling for organisations to create a more inclusive environment for disabled visitors online – committing to equality, inclusion and anti-ableism.

A family of two adults and a young child in the grounds of St Fagans Museum

Publications

Understanding how we can be a more inclusive and equitable funder

Explore the findings from our independent research examining perspectives on heritage, inclusion and barriers to accessing our funding.

Two women looking into a glass museum display case.

An exhibition on the School for the Blind at the Museum of Liverpool.

Blogs

Diversifying workforces benefits staff, employers and heritage audiences

Esther Fox shares how even small changes can have big impacts on heritage workforces and build a more sustainable and equitable sector.

05/09/2022

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

Projects

Touching stitches: embroidery access for the blind

This innovative project explored ways to enable blind and partially sighted people to access the Edinburgh College of Art’s historic textile collection, which spans over three centuries.

29/05/2019

Artwork of head and shoulders of a person in a blue jacket

Detail of artwork by Cameron Morgan

Projects

100 Portraits - a living archive of learning disability today

Artists used portraiture to capture a snapshot of the learning disabled community in Scotland during the pandemic.

26/02/2020

A photo of a wall painting, showing a lighthouse with the word 'hope'

A photograph from the project titled 'Hope'. Credit: Derrick Kerr

Projects

People with disabilities tell their stories through photography

A participatory photography project is supporting disabled people and those from socially deprived areas to engage with their local and national heritage.

16/03/2021

Volunteers in ‘The Wilderness’ garden. Credit: MHA

Projects

The Wilderness: Saving nature’s heritage to improve wellbeing

Despite challenges during the pandemic, The Wilderness project shows how older people’s wellbeing can be improved by actively restoring and engaging with natural heritage.

28/11/2017

Design visual of people enjoying a garden with trees and pond, outside the Natural History Museum

Design visual of the Natural History Museum garden. Credit: Feilden Fowles and J & L Gibbons

News

£3.2million for the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project

A major project will support wildlife in London and other UK cities through a biodiverse green space, scientific innovation and engaging young people.

12/08/2021