4 reasons why you should embrace the heritage in your community

Published 29th March 2023

Heritage can mean different things to different people. It can be physical places or objects, such as an old building, a historic park or an artefact in a museum. It can also be traditions or language that tell the stories of our personal and shared history. Heritage helps us understand our shared past and how it affects us today. There are many reasons to identify, protect and celebrate the heritage in your community – here are some highlights:

• Surveys show that the majority of people in the UK feel that local heritage makes their area a better place to live in, for example this Heritage Fund survey found that 80% of respondents agreed with this. Heritage may also contribute to health and wellbeing.
• Well-maintained historic buildings provide places with their own distinctive character and support the local economy, for example by encouraging tourism or attracting new businesses into an area. It is estimated that the historic environment supports 66,000 jobs and contributes more than £2.3 billion to Scotland’s economy.
• Reusing existing buildings is better for the environment, as this retains their embodied carbon and reduces the need for new construction materials. Historic buildings can also be adapted to improve their energy efficiency.
• Heritage can be a catalyst for learning and volunteering activities, with something to suit everyone in the community. In fact, most funders will expect this to be included if you are applying for funding for a heritage project – the National Lottery Heritage Fund has some inspiring examples on their website.

If you want to find out more about how to champion your local heritage, Historic Environment Scotland has a Community Advice Hub section on their website.