Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities
Dig Where You Stand, North Yorkshire. Photo: Alicia Barrett.
Heritage belongs to us all – which is why we want to help tell everyone's stories.
At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we support all sorts of projects which explore and celebrate the heritage of diverse ethnic communities.
We want to support all communities to explore and share their heritage, enriching people’s lives and increasing the diversity of heritage workforces, leadership and audiences. That's why under our Heritage 2033 investment principles inclusion, access and participation must be part of every project we fund.
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)
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. This describes a range of ethnic groups or people with nomadic ways of life who are not from a specific ethnicity.
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.
Get inspiration for your project
Explore the projects below and find out more about applying for our funding.
Dr Habib and Stephen Welsh with project participant, Urussa
Blogs
South Asian heritage: truth-telling and transformation
Dr Sadia Habib and Stephen Welsh take a look at how more UK museums are considering ways of deepening engagement with South Asian communities and heritage.
Stories
Virtual book club celebrates Punjabi heritage
We explore how National Lottery funding helped the United Kingdom Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) adapt to lockdown and launch an award-winning virtual book club.
News
The Nishkam Centre: building heritage for future generations
The Birmingham organisation is using National Lottery funding and 'selfless service' to record stories and support communities.
News
25 years: stars launch free offers for National Lottery players
The offers are to say "Thanks to You" to people who buy National Lottery tickets. They also give National Lottery players the chance to see how their money has transformed the UK’s heritage over the past 25 years. Big Narstie, Derry Girls' Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Love Island’s Anton Danyluk and
News
Chris Packham and Jamal Edwards celebrate 25 years of funding for nature
Funding conservation across the UK Over the past 25 years, The National Lottery has injected £829million into natural heritage conservation across the UK, to help protect and conserve wildlife. This includes: £548m on biodiversity projects £227m supporting important and historic landscapes over 70
Stories
Pride and prejudice: stories of love against the odds
The National Lottery-funded Colour of Love project captured the poignant stories of mixed-race couples and their families in 1940s–1970s Nottinghamshire. Here are some of our favourites.
Blogs
Eulogy - telling the stories of first generation Jamaicans
It was losing my father Hermerde in September 2017 and the funeral of one of his closest friends exactly a year later that inspired the Eulogy project.
Stories
After Windrush - telling stories of struggle and celebration
Why did you want to make this film? I had the idea for about 25 years. I'm an African-Caribbean British Yorkshireman. I was born here, raised here. I saw my mother and father go through racism, I went through it at school. Then when I came out of the military, I couldn’t even get a job, people were
Blogs
Finding 'a home' in the heritage sector
Working as a black person in the heritage sector can be isolating. Connecting with peers has been essential.
Blogs
Every voice matters - collecting black stories
A few months into his new role, Nasir Adam explains what he's doing to bring the museum together with black communities across Wales.
Stories
25 years: from church to grime, Waltham Forest celebrates its heritage
“Thank you Lottery, I feel like a winner!” - Rory Sky What links a church, a dry cleaners and grime music? A difficult question but in this London borough at least, it’s clear – it's National Lottery investment and a growing sense of pride. A place of heritage In Lloyd Park, just outside the William
Stories
25 years: discovering the origins of grime and connecting communities in Waltham Forest
Since the National Lottery began 25 years ago, more than £20million has been invested in Waltham Forest’s heritage. It’s restored historic buildings, helped nature thrive and rejuvenated streets. It’s also explored some incredible community stories, including the history of grime music. “It’s helped