Investing in disability heritage

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.

Young people in front of a vintage bus

Projects

From Tips to Technology

A group of young disabled people explored the heritage of South Wales to develop a sense of their identity.

Visitors exploring Kew Palace
Visitors exploring Kew Palace

Projects

Improving disabled access to Kew Palace

As part of a wider conservation project, Historic Royal Palaces is working with local disabled people to improve access to Kew Palace.

A child reading a book about bats

Projects

Batscapes - for People and Bats

A team of 50 volunteer bat wardens worked to increase the population of horseshoe bats in South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset through monitoring, habitat management and education.

Wicked Fish Project

Projects

People Like Us

A two-year project explored, collected and shared the social and cultural history of people with learning disabilities in the Liverpool and the Merseyside region.

Project participants attending one of the intergenerational workshops
Project participants attending one of the intergenerational workshops

Projects

Back to School: Lessons to Learn

The Scottish Council on Deafness (SCOD) created a series of workshops on the educational experiences of older D/deaf people.

Three participants hold up exhibits including shirts with text written on them

Projects

Hidden Now Heard

Royal Mencap Society secured funding to record, exhibit and preserve the hidden heritage of people with learning disabilities.

Young participants at the Renaissance Globe Project

Projects

The Renaissance Globe Project

The Museum of the History of Science in Oxford illuminated the astonishing history of globe-making for thousands of children and families.

Children looking at a museum display of geological collections
Children look at a museum display of geological collections

Projects

Rock Band: the UK's geological heritage

Five museums and heritage organisations in the south east of England found new ways to engage audiences with their geological collections.

Participants investigating Ely Hospital

Projects

Heritage 1st

People in Cardiff and Newport recorded the memories of those who lived and worked at Ely Hospital, a controversial institution for people with learning disabilities.

Young woman holding sign
Lizzie Guntrip at our Heritage Ambassadors' induction.

Blogs

How do we involve young people in nature?

One of our young heritage ambassadors Lizzie Guntrip on how we can make our natural world more accessible.

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