Whose Heritage Gets Funded? Opening Up Grant Access for Inclusive Projects
Thoughts Still Simmering from Historic England’s "Disability Access to Heritage Roundtable".
Yesterday’s Disability Access to Heritage Roundtable, hosted by Historic England, spotlighted a pressing issue: grant application processes in the sector are largely inaccessible. While funding exists for inclusive heritage work, many disabled-led organisations (DPOs), small community groups, and neurodivergent applicants find themselves shut out - not because of the merit of their ideas, but because of the structure of the application process itself.
Participants shared real frustrations: unclear language, word count constraints, tight deadlines, inaccessible tech platforms, and the sheer emotional labour of matching vision to funders’ expectations over and over again. One point echoed by many? You often find out about opportunities too late - and by then, capacity is already stretched thin.
Even well-intentioned funders sometimes bury their accessibility support in hard-to-find links (a good example shared at the rountable: Esmee Fairbairn’s accessibility guidance isn’t on their main page). Add in the reality that many community-led heritage projects aren’t formal organisations, and it becomes clear: the odds are stacked!
There’s also the question of the digital divide, which is often more associated with older people by default - an assumption that overlooks the many younger Disabled people and others across all age groups who also face digital exclusion. According to both AbilityNet and Good Things Foundation, many disabled people face barriers accessing and using digital systems. While online platforms can streamline application processes, inaccessible design and over-complicated portals can deter or exclude.
Offering paper-based applications can help bridge this gap - but only if handled with care. Requiring multiple paper forms, for instance, can create cost burdens for applicants (e.g. postage), and it’s not always clear how this reduces admin for funders. A balanced, user-focused approach is needed.
So, how can funders improve? And how can applicants navigate the system as it is, while pushing for change? The tips and suggestions below, drawn from both the roundtable and sector experience, aim to help reframe funding - from something daunting to something genuinely inclusive.
1. Add a Heritage-Specific Section
Include a dedicated category for grants and funding lists featuring clear and specific descriptions of ‘inclusive’ such as:
National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) – Especially strong on inclusive heritage through their Heritage 2033 strategy. Offers support for accessibility, lived experience involvement, and community-led storytelling.
Historic England – Funds capital works and community heritage projects, including building conservation, with a focus on underrepresented voices.
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation – Funds projects at the intersection of social justice and culture.
Art Fund and Clore Duffield Foundation – Fund museum learning and access to heritage collections.
Association of Independent Museums (AIM) – Offers small grants for community and access work.
2. Signpost Accessibility-Savvy Funders
Simply create a note in each grant entry or a side panel like:
"Access-friendly grantmaker – supports alternative formats and access costs in applications."
3. Encourage Cross-Sector Partnerships
Prompt DPOs to co-apply with museums, historic houses, or local archives. Many funders favour collaborative bids between community-led groups and heritage institutions.
4. Add Quick Tips for DPOs New to Heritage Work
Think about how your history, spaces, or lived experience can become heritage (e.g. documenting disability activism, accessible tours, inclusive design).
Many heritage projects begin with oral histories, memory-sharing, or access audits - good entry points for DPOs.
Where We Go from Here
Improving access to funding isn't just a box-ticking exercise - it's the foundation of a more inclusive heritage sector. Funders have an opportunity to open doors, not just windows, by rethinking how applications are designed, supported, and shared.
We’re supporting this shift by developing a growing database of inclusive heritage projects, showcasing good practice across the UK and beyond. We also feature inclusive-verified opportunities - such as tenders, grants, and partnerships - in our newsletters to help level the playing field.
If you're a funder, practitioner, or part of a community group looking to connect with this movement, we’d love to hear from you!