Thriving Places
What we mean by place
‘Place’ can mean many things, and definitions vary depending on where you are or who you ask. But examples include a local community, a natural landscape or an entire city.
How heritage supports great places
Many areas across the UK have a ‘sense of place’ that inspires local pride and increases wellbeing.
Heritage sits at the heart of a place’s identity, adding depth, character and value. This can include buildings and monuments, landscapes, high streets and parks.
Heritage helps connect people and communities to a place and boosts local economic prosperity.
Our funding for heritage projects
We welcome projects that take a 'place-based approach'. Place-based working is about:
- identifying challenges and opportunities in the heritage of a place
- developing responses which bring about benefits for both the heritage and the place
- thinking beyond an individual project by considering how it relates to your local area and community
- partnering or coordinating with other organisations to increase the impact of your project
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently prioritising projects that create better places to live, work and visit, and boost local economies.
See our funding programmes to find out how to apply.
A place funder, not just a project funder
We also support place-based working by:
- devolving decision-making, which enables locally based staff, with local expertise, to assess applications and make awards
- addressing under-representation in our funding of geographical areas experiencing deprivation
- working with local councils and others to connect our funding to wider local priorities
- working with national partners and agencies on major place-based initiatives
Running a place-based project
Need help or inspiration?
You can find useful guidance here:
And discover how heritage can create better places in the project examples below.
News
£2.5million awarded to first 11 Heritage Places projects across the UK
Blogs
How targeted support has helped Knowsley's heritage thrive
Projects
Supporting people in Knowsley to explore their heritage
The Knowsley Golden Thread project will champion inclusivity and enable groups, organisations and local communities to drive their involvement in heritage.
Projects
Sauchiehall Street: Culture and Heritage District
A long-term effort to regenerate Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street has received support through our Heritage Places initiative.
Projects
Consultation and collaboration guiding Stoke-on-Trent’s heritage regeneration plans
Stoke-on-Trent City Council are creating a Heritage Collaboration Framework, empowering communities to have their say on how heritage can regenerate their area.
Stories
Case study: heritage supporting revitalisation in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft
Projects
Great Yarmouth Winter Gardens - Reimagining the People's Palace
Great Yarmouth Borough Council is restoring the UK’s last surviving Victorian ironwork seaside winter gardens.
Basic Page
Strategic initiatives
Projects
A lido revolution: championing outdoor swimming
The Pooling Resources project, led by Future Lidos, has developed and delivered a digital toolkit to support the revival of lidos across the UK.
Blogs
A year as Director of England, North: resilience and saving heritage
Publications
How our targeted funding is improving confidence and collaboration
Projects
How a derelict building on Bangor’s seafront became Northern Ireland’s newest venue
Thanks to overwhelming community support, Open House turned a former bank and court house in Bangor into a contemporary music venue, saving it from dereliction.