The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced plans to make £3.6bn-worth of grants as part of its 10-year strategy, published today.
The grantmaker is also lifting its £5m ceiling for grant applications for funding programmes, which has been in place for 20 years, to £10m, and will consider exceeding this threshold for some projects.
Its new strategy commits to offering flexible financial support in the early stages of organisations’ projects, and to making follow-on funding available on completion of significant capital projects.
The funder’s investments will be guided by four new investment principles: saving heritage, protecting the environment, inclusivity/accessibility and organisational sustainability.
By 2033, it wants to involve a more diverse range of people in heritage and address barriers to access for people underserved by the sector.
It plans to review its strategy’s delivery every three years.
£24m awarded in heritage grants
The funder, which invests funds raised for good causes by National Lottery players, has invested £8.2bn in over 45,000 heritage projects since the organisation formed in 1994. It claims to have supported every local authority and council in the UK in that time.
Today it announced its latest £24m investment, with grants being awarded to projects in Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
The largest grant was £5m which was given to Crystal Palace Park to advance its regeneration programme.
Based in Bromley, it is home to Victorian dinosaur statues, which have stood there for over 170 years.
Today we award £24m to amazing heritage projects across the UK! Including @CrystalPalacePK @CPParkTrust @CdfTrinity @lisburnccc @Natures_Voice @SwanseaCouncil @MonmouthshireCC @ThePieceHall @MediaMuseum and @HighMillCarluke.
— National Lottery Heritage Fund (@HeritageFundUK) March 28, 2023
Find out more 👉 https://t.co/DdI293iUQB #Heritage2033 pic.twitter.com/af4ViLf5po
Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Crystal Palace Park embodies the joy of heritage: from its nature walks and unique Dinosaurs to the kaleidoscope of sporting and cultural activities held in its magnificent grounds. It’s as important to local communities as its history is significant internationally.
“We’re delighted that thanks to players of the National Lottery, we can save much loved heritage like the Crystal Palace Park all over the UK and create benefits for people, places and our natural environment. In 1852, Crystal Palace Park was designed to impress, educate, entertain and inspire. Our funding will help ensure that it continues to do just that for generations to come.”
Yvonne Bear, Bromley’s executive councillor for renewal, recreation and housing, said: “Building on our close work with Historic England recently to prepare for the Dinosaurs’ restoration, the Heritage Fund grant will allow us to safeguard the future of these amazing structures, while also delivering wider improvements to green spaces, including a new playground for families to enjoy.”
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford received a grant of over £3m and more than £2m was committed to regenerating Tottenham High Road in London.
