HISTORIC England is launching ‘Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories’ to fund community-led projects that aim to further the nation’s collective understanding of the past. 

Historic England is inviting community or heritage organisations in the East of England to apply for grants of up to £25,000 to fund projects that will celebrate the built or historic environment near them.

Applications for funding for smaller grass roots projects of less than £10,000 are also welcome.

The funding will focus on heritage that links people to overlooked historic places, with a particular interest in recognising and celebrating working class histories.

Heritage should be for everyone. From palaces to terraced houses, stately homes to barns, our towns and landscapes are filled with symbols of our past.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “The histories of castles and great houses and their inhabitants are well documented, but we know far less about our everyday heritage. From council estates, pubs and clubs, to farms, factories and shipyards, these are the places where most people have lived, worked and played for hundreds of years. We want to explore these untold stories and celebrate the people and places at the heart of our history.”

Nigel Huddleston, Heritage Minister, said: “Our heritage belongs to us all and should be accessible to everyone. I welcome plans for new community-led projects to tell the story of working people across the country, bringing our collective and shared history back to life.”

Each project should enable people to creatively share overlooked or untold stories of the places where they live and encourage communities, groups and local people to examine and tell their own stories in their own ways.

Historic England is also hoping for applications for projects that provide innovative volunteering opportunities for young people or people facing loneliness or isolation, as well as contribute positively to participants’ wellbeing. 

As a result of these projects, heritage and stories that have been previously overlooked will be recognised and revealed, with buildings or historic sites acting as the inspiration. 

People will be able to tell their own stories, in their own way, and be encouraged to connect with others in their local communities.

Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories are the first of many cultural projects that Historic England aims to deliver over the next three years in order to shine a light on the diversity of the nation’s heritage. 

How to apply

Heritage should be for everyone. From palaces to terraced houses, stately homes to barns, our towns and landscapes are filled with symbols of our past.

But not everyone’s stories are told and not everyone’s history is remembered.

Does your local railway, mine or factory have a fascinating story to be told? Is your coastal or rural town filled with tales about the people who previously lived and worked there? Have you always wanted to celebrate the architecture of the area where you live? 

The Everyday Heritage Grants aim to address these questions by engaging with the widest possible range of heritage and helping to further the nation’s collective understanding of England’s past.

Applications open on Wednesday, 23 February and close on Monday, 23 May.

For more information visit www.historicengland.org.uk or email [email protected]