The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has set out the key elements of its future strategy in a publication outlining the organisation’s strategic framework from April 2008 to 2013. The document also serves to reassure the sector that while competition for funds may increase, HLF will remain the biggest funder of heritage in the UK with £1.9billion to distribute over the next 12 years.

The document reveals that all main funding programmes* will continue and HLF’s application and assessment process will be made simpler and quicker, with decisions given earlier in the development of projects and more help available to applicants.

Dame Liz Forgan, Chair of HLF, said,

“Over the past 12 years, HLF has radically transformed the UK’s heritage. Over the next 12 years, a further investment from HLF of around £1.9 billion will continue to help us conserve and share our precious heritage now and for future generations.”

“Our wide ranging consultation informed us that our key aims of conservation, participation and learning should remain at the heart of our work and confirmed that we must continue to take a very broad approach to heritage, allowing applicants to come to us with their projects based on what people most value most.”

HLF’s Future Funding

Between 2009 – 2013, HLF will:

• distribute some £180 million in awards per year
• continue to fund heritage projects of all sizes, including smaller ‘Your Heritage’ and ‘Young Roots’ grants and some major awards over £5m
• introduce new initiatives to support applicants and grantees
• remain locally responsive at regional and country level

HLF has reviewed its funding in light of its own approach to committing funding in advance as well as the impact of Lottery funding for the 2012 Olympics. Whilst competition for funds is expected to be tougher in the coming period, HLF will still be the largest source of heritage funding available in the UK.

Liz Forgan added, “We have started to change the way people think about and care for the heritage. It’s important we continue to encourage a broad range of people to take an active part in looking after the UK’s rich legacy from the past.”

Margaret Hodge MP, the new Culture Minister, commented, “Heritage is the foundation of today’s society; it tells us where we have come from and provides the places where we live with so much of their character and beauty.  I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund will continue with its broad and distinctive approach and has committed to simpler processes and more help for applicants.”

HLF Brings in Fresh Developments

• Simpler Application Process – To make applying to HLF easier and less costly, we will introduce a simplified and faster application and assessment process.
• More Help – Where appropriate, HLF will offer a mentoring service provided by specialist advisors to reduce risks in project development, improve the overall quality of projects and provide inexperienced applicants with extra help.
• Going Green - HLF will be asking applicants to ‘green’ their projects, minimising environmental impacts and encouraging innovative thinking and developing practice on sustainable use of resources.
• Champions of the Future – Whilst continuing with the successful ‘Young Roots’ programme, HLF will be implementing a new youth participation strategy, engaging even more with young people, helping them gain skills and experience of heritage as well as becoming the potential ‘heritage champions’ of the future.
• Heritage Heroes - In any one year, HLF projects have involved more than 17,000 volunteers – together giving well over a century of their time to heritage.  To celebrate this, we will launch an annual awards scheme, giving the public a chance to nominate their local ‘heritage hero.’

The new applications materials will be introduced in April 2008 with the first round of decisions in December 2008. The document contains further details of transitional timings for HLF’s individual programmes.

Notes to Editors

HLF enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. We have supported more than 26,000 projects, allocating over £3.97 billion across the UK. 

* Both HLF’s general and targeted funding programmes will continue:

• Heritage Grants £50,000 upwards
• Your Heritage £3,000 - £50,000
• Young Roots £3,000 – £25,000
• Parks for People £250,000 - £5million
• Townscape Heritage Initiative £500,000 - £2 million
• Landscape Partnerships £250,000 - £2 million
• Repair Grants for Places of Worship £10,000 to £250,000 (Scotland and England) and £100,000 (Wales and N Ireland).

Consultation

HLF received 350 substantive responses to its consultation. These responses can be found at /future

Further information

For more information or a copy of the publication, please contact HLF’s press office, Alison Scott or Katie Owen on 0207 591 6032/6036.

Click here to download the document in English (pdf file 516KB)