A major devolution of
decision-making across the whole of the UK is at the heart of new plans to
distribute more than £1bn of National Lottery money to the UK’s heritage over
the next five years, it has been announced.
Decisions on around
80% of all funding by the newly styled National Lottery Heritage Fund, which is
changing its name from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will be made in Scotland,
Northern Ireland, Wales and three new English areas.
The National Lottery
Heritage Fund has consulted with more than 13,000 people, including National
Lottery players and heritage organisations, on its priorities as the UK’s
biggest funder of heritage.
The new approach
includes:
- a major focus on
nature, communities, and on ensuring everyone is able to enjoy heritage – three
top priorities for people who responded to the consultation;
- new models of
investment, moving beyond grants to include loans and partnerships, designed to
attract others to invest money alongside the National Lottery;
- more support for
commercial, sustainable approaches to tackling heritage that’s in danger of
being lost;
- investment and support
to help heritage organisations to be more financially sustainable;
- a requirement for every
heritage project that receives funding to be environmentally friendly;
- simpler, streamlined
and more efficient funding;
- greater engagement and
support to help 13 deprived communities that have in the past been less
successful securing funding; and
- continued support for
large-scale, iconic projects over £5m.
Ros Kerslake, CEO of
The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Over the past 25 years, money raised
by people who buy National Lottery tickets has profoundly changed how we view
and engage with the UK’s exceptionally varied heritage. By putting people at
its heart, it has helped our wonderful buildings, iconic landscapes, cultural
memories and traditions and native species not just survive, but thrive.
“Over the next five
years, The National Lottery Heritage Fund will inspire, lead and resource the
UK’s heritage, distributing more than £1bn. So we will be making more
decisions on funding locally and focusing on the heritage that really matters
to people, creating jobs, bringing economic prosperity and improving people’s
lives right across the UK.”
Also unveiled is a new
look for the organisation that has distributed £8 billion to more than 44,000
projects over the past 25 years.
A fresh new identity
and name – The National Lottery Heritage Fund – is designed to thank National
Lottery players and help people better understand the difference they make when
they buy a ticket. This move underlines ambitions to see returns to good causes
grow.
Research has found
that National Lottery players are keen to know more about how their money is
used, so in future every organisation awarded funding will be asked to think
about how National Lottery players will be thanked, acknowledged and invited to
participate in their work.
For the first time all
funding decisions up to £5 million will be decided by committees and senior
staff in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and three geographical areas in
England: North; Midlands & East; and London & South. This will amount
to around 80% of The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s annual budget, compared
with around half under the last strategic framework. Major awards over £5m will
be decided by the UK Board of Trustees who will also drive the strategy and
policy of the fund and make decisions on all UK heritage campaigns, joint funds
and impact funds. There will also be a wider network of office and staff
locations across the UK to support this new structure.
A new, simplified
portfolio of funding has today opened for applications. The portfolio will
comprise:
- National Lottery Grants
for Heritage - an open programme for any type of heritage project from
£3,000–£5 million.
- Heritage funding
campaigns designed to fulfil strategic needs or funding gaps. The first
two campaigns are will launch in 2019, focusing on: helping organisations build
their capacity and organisational resilience; and helping to build digital capabilities.
- Joint funds to deliver
strategic initiatives in partnership with other organisations, such as the Future Parks Accelerator partnership with the National Trust.
- Social investments such
as impact funds and loans.
- Two rounds of major
grants of over £5 million in 2020–21 and 2022–23.
National Lottery
Grants for Heritage can be applied for immediately – most grants will now have
a preliminary “expression of interest” stage. Details on other new funding
areas will be rolled out during 2019.
Heritage Minister
Michael Ellis said: “The UK's heritage is the story of our shared past and
culture. The National Lottery has funded thousands of projects that protect and
celebrate the country's diverse landscapes, traditional crafts, and buildings.
“This change by The
National Lottery Heritage Fund will give heritage experts in the
UK more power to care for the heritage that means the most to local
people, and ensure it is protected for future generations.”
