Following the phenomenal success of its community grants programmes First World War: then and now, HLF has made an additional £4million available for communities looking to explore, conserve and share local heritage of the First World War. Grants are available between £3,000 and £10,000.
Thanks to National Lottery funding, thousands of young people and communities throughout the UK have already been involved in activities marking the Centenary such as: researching and recording local heritage; conserving and finding out more about war memorials; and using digital technology to share the fascinating stories they uncover. This new money will help even more people get involved to explore a greater range of stories including those surrounding the Somme campaign, which lasted from July to November 1916.
Kelly Tolhurst MP said: "These projects and stories have been an inspiration. It's so important that we remember the impact of this war one hundered years on. There is still time to apply for National Lottery money and I would urge anyone in Rochester and Strood with an idea for their own project - possibly regarding some of our own local heritage that is linked to WW1 - to get in touch with HLF".
There are now 1,520 First World War projects taking place across the UK, thanks to more than £77million of investment from HLF. Projects already underway show the breadth the scale of First World War stories being explored and shared across the country:
- Local people from Tottenham and Walthamstow in London showed how they have been exploring their family histry to see if their relatives fought in the war;
- Young people from North Tyneside demonstrated how they have been using social media to retell the stories of local soldiers; and
- Young women in Birmingham shared what they have been uncovering about the experiences of women who worked in factories during the conflict in particular the Birmingham Small Arms factory in Small Heath.
More information on how to apply for HLF funding is available at www.hlf.org.uk.