The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was set up by Parliament in 1994 to give grants to a wide range of projects involving the local, regional and national heritage of the United Kingdom. They distribute a share of the money raised by the National Lottery for Good Causes.

This year, they will allocate around £220 million to projects in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Since 1994 HLF has awarded over £4.3 billion to more than 28,800 projects across the UK.

They are officially known as a ‘non-departmental public body’. This means that, although they are not a government department, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport issues financial and policy directions to them and they report to Parliament through the department. Their decisions about individual applications and policies are entirely independent.

HLF is administered by the Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) which allocates around £10 million per annum to our national heritage, acting as a fund of ‘last resort’.

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK.

This year marks The National Lottery's 15th Anniversary. Since 1994 over £23billion - that's £25million each week - has been raised by Lottery players for the arts, sport, heritage, environment, education, health, charity and voluntary sectors.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 November 2009 )