The Heritage Fund has evaluated how heritage organisations across the UK used the emergency funding provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the positive impact which it has had on the sector.
In March 2020 the Heritage Fund was concerned that COVID-19 would have a significant impact on the UK’s heritage and developed a response to support organisations working in heritage.
The Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) – launched in April 2020 – saw £49,829,600 awarded to 961 heritage organisations to help them to survive, recover, innovate and reopen.
Five elements of its response to COVID-19 are covered in the evaluation:
o HEF grants for £3,000-£50,000.
o HEF grants for £50,000-£250,000.
o Flexibility for current grants.
o Grant increases, and
o Register of Support Services (ROSS) Consultant support.
The evaluation aims to understand whether the Heritage Fund’s response to COVID-19 met the needs of organisations working in the heritage sector and, in doing so, delivered the three stated outcomes of the Fund’s Strategic Funding Framework, namely:
1. Economy.
2. Inclusion, and
3. Wellbeing. economy, inclusion and wellbeing.
The final version of the (2MB) Evaluation Report is available to download for free on the Heritage Fund website.
