History in the Making - Historic England - Stockroom - Delve

Young people who took part in the scheme in 2023/24 reported feeling more confident, developing new skills and learning something new about their local area

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Youth-led heritage projects receive further funding

The funding will allow young people to learn about the history of their local areas and create local place markers using a variety of creative mediums.

Mary Stone
2 min read

More than 20 heritage projects across England will receive funding from Historic England to empower young people to explore and commemorate their local histories.

A total of 21 grants with a combined value of £261,000 have been warded to youth organisations and community for 18-month projects starting in January 2025. Four recipients will form part of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations.

Historic England said that participants in the History in the Making scheme for 2023/24 reported feeling more confident, developing new skills and learning something new about their local area, with 93% of those questioned motivated to participate in more activities in their local community.

Successful projects for the new intake include On the Map, which will mark the History of Masjid Ibrahim, a mosque in Newham, London. Young people will interview community elders and create a series of podcasts, video reels and a mural.

In King’s Lynn, Norfolk, young people will create an augmented reality trail through the town centre, exploring the queer histories of the town, which will connect to a permanent artwork created in partnership with True’s Yard.

Meanwhile, in Staffordshire, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children will explore the heritage and historical significance of the area to design a place marker created by a local artist.

More than 100 applications were made to the programme following an open callout in July. The decision-making process was guided by Historic England’s young advisers.

‘Unearthing history to shape the future’

Amy, a Historic England young adviser, said being a part of the process from the beginning had been “insightful”.

“It is also especially rewarding to see the range of young people from under-represented backgrounds that will be a part of these projects,” she said.

Heritage Minister Chris Bryant said: “This government recognises that whilst passion is everywhere, opportunity is not, and we are committed to providing young people with equal chances to develop their skills, regardless of background.

“I am thrilled that Historic England’s History in the Making programme will fund these important projects to enrich the lives of young people, develop their confidence and unearth history to shape their future.

“It’s also fantastic to see successful projects in Bradford ahead of their year as UK City of Culture in 2025.”