It's a Lottery

Claire Saul celebrates 30 years of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which supports heritage projects across the United Kingdom

As a nation, we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy a rich diversity of heritage. It comes in many forms, from the archaeology under our feet, historic parks, popular museums, buildings we love to visit and precious memories and collections we cherish, to the sweeping landscapes and rare wildlife we fight to protect, and languages and cultural traditions celebrating who we are. Our heritage is tirelessly safeguarded and conserved by skilled and committed individuals and organisations who ensure this legacy survives to educate and entertain us, and future generations to come.

This comes at a significant cost. But 30 years ago, the future for heritage began to look a little brighter with the introduction of the National Lottery in November 1994 and its decreed 25% allocation of money raised to "good causes". In the same year, the Heritage Lottery Fund was established to administer the slice of this income awarded to "projects involving the local, regional and national heritage." Rebranded as the National Lottery Heritage Fund five years ago, it has followed a remit to value, care for and sustain the UK's heritage and remains its largest dedicated funder. Over the past three decades, the fund has seen at least £8.6bn of National Lottery money awarded and distributed to more than 47,000 heritage projects across the UK.