National Lottery Heritage Fund Launches Future Heritage Leadership Programme for Young People

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has opened applications for its new Future Heritage Leadership programme, giving 12 young people aged 18–30 the chance to gain paid experience in heritage sector governance and grant-making.

The 18-month initiative does not require any previous board or committee experience and has been created to give participants hands-on involvement in real funding decisions across the UK.

Those selected will shadow Heritage Fund committees, receive professional training, visit heritage sites and projects, and network with sector leaders — all while being paid for their time.

Commenting on the launch, CEO Eilish McGuinness said:

“One of the four key investment principles in our 10-year strategy, Heritage 2033, is inclusion, access and participation. We want to ensure everyone has opportunities to learn, develop new skills and explore heritage.

One of the ways we can do that is by increasing the diversity of heritage workforces and leadership and providing more equitable opportunities for active involvement.

Our Future Heritage Leadership programme has been designed to give a group of young adults who are passionate about heritage valuable career experience, setting them on their journey to become the heritage leaders of the future, and supporting our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”

To apply, candidates must be aged between 18 and 30, show a genuine passion for their local heritage, and commit to attending quarterly meetings and training sessions throughout the programme.

Applications should include a CV and cover letter, with the deadline set for 10 December 2025.

The 12 successful participants will begin in March 2026, receiving payment for each committee meeting attended, along with travel and related expenses.

Recent investments by the Heritage Fund include £9.7 million towards The Royal Observatory Greenwich’s First Lightproject, which will conserve listed buildings and create interactive spaces for astronomy education by early 2028.

The Fund has also awarded £5.54 million to restore Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, building on an earlier £10 million grant, and provided £13.7 million to support the RAF Museum Midlands and the Royal Marines Experience in Portsmouth, expanding public access to the UK’s military heritage collections.