With just a year to go until we mark the centenary of the UK entering the First World War, Teresa Pearce MP is urging residents of Erith & Thamesmead to consider applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for community projects to learn more about the First World War.
HLF is making at least £1million a year available until 2019 as part of the First World War: Then and Now programme for small, community grants. It will provide grants of £3,000 to £10,000 enabling groups right across the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.
Teresa is encouraging constituents to think about how they would like to mark the Centenary. Successful projects will include:
- Researching, identifying and recording local heritage;
- Creating a community archive or collection;
- Developing new interpretations of heritage through exhibitions, trails, smartphone apps etc;
- Researching, writing and performing creative material based on heritage sources;
- Conserving and finding out more about war memorials.
Teresa said:
“I am pleased that the Heritage Lottery Fund is making this money available to local communities. Like many areas across the UK, the impact of the First World War on the people of Erith & Thamesmead was massive. It is important that younger generations are encouraged to learn about our national history and to develop an understanding of the how the First World War shaped our modern world.
I would suggest that anyone who would like to learn more about the legacy of the First World War, of who would like to mark its Centenary, should get in touch with the Heritage Lottery Fund.”
HLF has already invested £15 million in projects – large and small – that will mark the Centenary of the First World War. If a group have a project idea to mark this occasion, an online application pack is available.
This is a rolling programme, which means that applications can be submitted at anytime. Applications are processed in about 8 weeks.
