The National Lottery Heritage Fund has invested £25m ($33.5m) into a new scheme to connect younger generations with historical and community projects.
Eilish McGuinness, The National Lottery Heritage Fund CEO, said: “Each of these newly funded projects are exploring ways for young people to get involved with heritage, as well as offering quality apprenticeships, research opportunities and hands-on experience.
“They show how heritage – from historic buildings and collections to the natural world – can empower the next generation by building confidence, skills and connection with what matters to them."
Community
One of the largest projects was for the Poor Priests’ Hospital, a Grade I listed building, will be repaired and repurposed by the Marlowe Theatre through a £4.4m grant.
Young people were asked to contribute to the development of The Hive, a creative learning centre that will host creative activities and programmes for young groups.
Rosie, who worked on developing the Poor Priests' Hospital project, said: “It’s just such an amazing opportunity to really have our voices heard. To really be part of a change and make a difference to a place that’s so special.”
Kingsley Hall in Bristol will use a £6m grant to restore the Grade II listed building to become a community hub for young people who are experiencing hardships, such as homelessness, leaving care or seeking asylum.
They will have the opportunity to access training and skills development, be guided towards employment and encouraged to find the confidence to live independently and confidently.
Project managers hope to reach around 1,600 young people each year, which would average around four individuals a day being supported by the project.
The world around them
As part of plans to safeguard the critically endangered sharks and rays in the Greater Thames Estuary, such as the tope shark, the Heritage Fund awarded £177,000 ahead of a further potential £914,000 grant to the Zoological Society of London.
Young people will be invited to take part in research to better understand the sharks in the Thames, as well as take action to help preserve the local habitats.
The picture above shows a tope shark, just one of the species that can be found in the Thames.
In Highgate Cemetery, a £6.6m grant will be used to fund conservation work on the Circle of Lebanon and the Terrace Catacombs. Children will be invited through school programmes to take part in garden work and foundational skills.
Kirikou Kavuma T-Silassie from Youth Social Action Group CIC, who worked on a documentary at Highgate Cemetery, said: “The experiences and learning that I've gained here, honestly, it’s priceless. It shows working with young people and between generations and demographics, together we can create something collective.”
History
The Victoria & Albert Museum will use a £4m grant to develop its South Asia gallery into something that speaks to the younger generations. Young people and multi-generational groups from South Asia are invited to offer their voices on possible themes, displays and perspectives.
Tristram Hunt, V&A Director, said: “The collection is one of the most significant of its kind in the Western world and we’re enormously grateful for this grant that will help create a world-leading gallery of South Asian art and design and engage with a new generation of British, global and diasporic communities.”
Finally, a £4.5m grant will be used to create a new community centre in the Tower of London that will offer 250% more educational space and allow for 200,000 school visits each year.
Aside from the educational angle, the project at the Tower of London will create six full-time apprenticeships for locals interested in heritage.
The Waterloo Block was originally used as a barracks for soldiers before being transformed into the Jewel House.
Earlier this week, the National Lottery operator Allwyn published its 2025 Sustainability Report that discussed its current employee well-being and environmental efforts.
There are at least five species of sharks living in the Thames, including the tope shark, the starry smoothound shark and the spiny dogfish – the last of which is venomous!
