Seven projects dedicated to promoting, celebrating, and enhancing Scotland's rich and diverse heritage are set to receive a share of £3.9 million in funding. The grants have been awarded through Historic Environment Scotland's (HES) Partnership Fund, which supports third-sector organisations making a significant national impact on the country's historic environment.

Established in 2021 as a successor to the Organisational Support Fund, the Partnership Fund aims to better assist Scotland's third sector in its work. It provides financial support to organisations that actively engage with communities and deliver national programmes and targeted activities to benefit Scotland's historic environment.

Alison Turnbull, Director of External Relations and Partnerships at HES, commented: "Community engagement is at the heart of our work, and what better way to involve communities than by supporting the organisations that serve them? Our Partnership Fund has awarded grants to seven projects which reflect our commitment to strengthening the resilience of Scotland's historic environment in different ways. These projects support investment into traditional skills and retrofitting, encourage communities to engage with their local archaeology and places of worship, and help communities adapt historic buildings for social and economic benefit. At their core, these initiatives embody the principle of heritage for all, ensuring that everyone can access, participate in, and benefit from Scotland's rich historic environment. And this is just the beginning. We expect the benefits of these projects to have a long-lasting and sustainable impact on the historic environment and communities across Scotland for years to come."

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The largest single grant of £1.9 million has been awarded to the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF). This funding will support the AHF's ongoing 'Heritage Developed & Sustained' project, which assists community-led groups across Scotland in finding sustainable new uses for historic buildings, directly benefiting local people and places. The project also focuses on enhancing community engagement with historic environments and their role as a catalyst for climate action, aligning with HES priorities in supporting Scotland's journey to net zero. The AHF has a particular emphasis on supporting projects in areas of multiple deprivation and those that improve a building's energy efficiency or environmental sustainability.

Matthew McKeague, CEO of the AHF, said: "We are immensely grateful to HES for this renewed and increased investment in our grants and support programme. It will extend our valued long-term strategic partnership and will enable us to continue providing funding and guidance over the next three years to support communities across Scotland, to take control of and adapt historic buildings for sustainable social and economic impact."

The funding announcement took place at Gracemount Mansion in Edinburgh, a community-led repair project that has received support from both HES and the AHF.

The full list of projects receiving funding through the Partnership Fund this year includes:

• Heritage Developed & Sustained (Architectural Heritage Fund) - To deliver AHF's grant programmes in Scotland.

• Protect and conserve war memorials (War Memorials Trust) - To support the repair and care of war memorials.

• Making Greater Impacts Through Archaeology (Archaeology Scotland) - To help communities manage and engage with local archaeology.

• Advocacy for Scotland's Historic Environment (Built Environment Forum Scotland) - To support the historic environment sector through lobbying and career development.

• Scotland's Diverse Heritage (Scottish Civic Trust) - To engage with marginalised and underrepresented audiences.

• A new life after worship - Securing the future of Scotland's most important 'at risk' churches (Historic Churches Scotland) - To work with communities to safeguard nationally important places of worship.

• Learning & Outreach Development 2025/26 (New Lanark Trust) - To educate people about New Lanark, one of Scotland's seven World Heritage Sites.

Organisations interested in applying to the Partnership Fund can submit an expression of interest no later than 15 August 2025. Further information about the funded projects is available upon request.