The Big Lottery Fund have set up a new ‘Building Connections’ Fund, of nearly £9 million, which aims to support projects that tackle loneliness. This is an area where Heritage has much to contribute. The Heritage Alliance recently responded to a Government consultation highlighting the numerous ways heritage can limit feelings of isolation.
The fund aims to further a sense of community and social connections, by helping organisations to build on their existing work, by encouraging local organisations to work together, and by improving the evidence base.
The fund is split into two, with a separate strand, of £2 million, aimed at tackling isolation among the youth. Applications for this strand will open in August.
Applications for the main fund close on August 24th.
More information can be found here.