Dear GEM colleagues,
New research by Britain Thinks puts heritage at the heart of improving quality of life across the UK over past 20 years
You may have seen that yesterday we at HLF launched research about the public’s perception of heritage and Lottery funding for heritage over the last 20 years. The report ’20 years in 12 places research’ was carried out for HLF by Britain Thinks
to mark HLF’s 20 years and £6billion of investment into the UK’s heritage.
I thought this group might be particularly interested to know what the public said when asked what they thought were the criteria for a ‘good’ heritage project. They told us it should have the following attributes:
- It needs to be fun
- It should provide lots of ways for people to get involved
- It should be educational
- It must appeal to people outside a narrow interest group
- It should conserve a valued aspect of the past
- Projects should be sustainable, both in terms of the quality of the work and being financially sustainable.
You might find these useful messages to take back into your organisations. There are also some important challenges in the report about the ongoing need to broaden the audience for heritage and we’d be interested in your responses to these.
The research – including summary reports, local place reports, some short films, slide decks and open data sets - is fully available through a comprehensive feature on our website. You can read more here:
http://www.hlf.org.uk/20years12places
The top level findings are provided in bullets below.
Do have a look at the detail – especially if you’re in one of the ’12 places’ featured in the research – and share it widely if you can. If you’re a Tweeter we’re using the hashtag 20Years12Places (#20Years12Places).
Key national findings
- 80% think local heritage makes their area a better place to live
- 64% think heritage has improved in recent years in terms of how well it is looked after and what it has to offer
- Heritage plays a powerful role in bringing people together and helping to improve perceptions of quality of life
- Benefits of heritage seen as both transactional and emotional, boosting economies, encouraging local pride and fostering social cohesion
- 69% of residents think the investment in local heritage projects has been good or excellent use of Lottery money, rising to 76% amongst regular players of The National Lottery.
Thanks and best wishes,
Jo
Jo Reilly
Head of Participation and Learning
Heritage Lottery Fund
7 Holbein Place, London SW1W 8NR
Direct line: 020 7591 6007 Mobile: 07989 344220
