Heritage For All Fund launches in Surrey

A new fund targeted at increasing opportunities for more people to engage with and benefit from Surrey’s heritage was announced today.

Surrey Heritage for All Fund, created by Surrey Cultural Partnership (SCP) and the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFSurrey), has received £250,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to be awarded as grants of up to £10,000 to eligible projects.

Through this new model, allowing grants to be administered locally, the Fund will seek to reach small organisations who may not have successfully applied for grants before. In addition to helping a wider range of people access heritage in Surrey, the Heritage for All Fund will contribute to the sustainability of organisations looking after heritage in the county, helping to preserve our heritage for the future.

Speaking at Surrey Cultural Forum 2025 – the annual conference for the county’s cultural leaders and stakeholders, organised by SCP and this year held at Farnham Maltings – Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South, at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“Heritage has the power to make our communities better places to live, bring a sense of pride and boost the local economy. We welcome the ambitions of Surrey Cultural Partnership and the Community Foundation for Surrey to help a wider range of people benefit from, and engage with, heritage through the Surrey Heritage for All Fund. For The National Lottery Heritage Fund this is also an opportunity for us to reach grass roots heritage organisations in the county who may not historically have benefited from our funding. Thanks to National Lottery players, together, we will help preserve Surrey’s important heritage for future generations.”

Marilyn Scott, Co-chair, Surrey Cultural Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be announcing this Fund today, which is a major Surprising Surrey strategic objective. We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for allocating this funding that will support local projects and benefit the wider community.”

“Surrey Cultural Partnership was established to be a catalyst in helping more people access more arts and heritage in our county, and new investment is critical to this. Working in partnership with CFSurrey and the Heritage Fund, this is a major next step on our journey.”

Dr Rebecca Bowden, Chief Executive, Community Foundation for Surrey, said:

“Surrey Heritage for All will provide grants to not-for-profit community organisations who are harnessing the power of Surrey’s amazing heritage to change the lives of those most in need in our county.”

CFSurrey Chief Executive Dr Beccy Bowden speaking at Surrey Cultural Forum

“We hope that the projects funded will create a broader audience for heritage in Surrey, and that the programme will demonstrate to future potential donors and to those commissioning and delivering well-being and health programmes within Surrey (Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sectors) how beneficial heritage projects can be in improving people’s quality of life.”

The Surrey Heritage for All Fund will be administered in two rounds, with Round One opening for Expressions of Interest in April 2025.