Investing in 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. 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.
Projects
Human Henge: historic landscapes and mental health at Stonehenge
Human Henge improved participants' mental health by providing high quality, small group experiences of archaeology and historic landscapes.
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
Exploring visual impairment in Newcastle
Visually impaired volunteers investigated the 150-year-old history of their society to learn more about blind heritage in the North East
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.
Projects
Green Fingers: improving wellbeing through woodland skills training
The Green Light Trust improved individuals’ wellbeing using a programme of traditional woodland skills.
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
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
Winlaton's Industrial Past
Trained volunteers supported people with learning disabilities to explore the industrial and social history of Winlaton in Gateshead.
Projects
The Re-Creators: the history of computer games and how they change us
Young people will explore the evolution of computer games from Pong to modern-day narrative-based platform games.
Projects
Exploring the hidden history of brain injury care in Cambridgeshire
People with brain injuries explored the experiences of similar people in the past in this innovative heritage project.
Projects
Growing Together Thundersley - Developing a new community garden
A community-based project in Castle Point worked with people with mental health problems, dementia and learning disabilities to create a garden.