Medway groups, organisations and residents are invited to shape the vision for heritage in Medway.
Today, Thursday, 18 April, we are marking World Heritage Day by inviting local people, groups and organisations to take part in an event to shape the long-term vision for heritage across Medway.
The event, planned for Saturday, 13 July at Rochester Corn Exchange, will bring together everyone with an interest in Medway’s places and stories. Community, voluntary or religious groups, businesses, heritage organisations and community members with an interest in Medway’s heritage are invited to take part.
The event marks the start of the Medway Heritage Place programme, a ten-year plus partnership with National Lottery Heritage Fund that aims to further strengthen Medway’s heritage offer and support as many people and communities as possible to celebrate Medway’s people, places and stories.
In November 2023, The National Lottery Heritage Fund named Medway as one of nine places who will benefit from a share of £200million of investment as part of their Heritage Places initiative. The initiative responds to local need and opportunity, supporting places to use heritage to build pride in place, inspire local communities and power regeneration.
As part of the initial investment phase, we will support Medway’s heritage community to shape a long-term ambition for heritage in Medway, develop new ideas and approaches and unearth new stories which deserve to be told.
This summer grant funding will be made available to support pilot projects bringing to life the history of Medway’s high streets and town centres, housing and estates, parks and green spaces and the River Medway as well as Medway’s cultures and traditions.
The Medway Heritage Place programme is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to bring Medway’s stories to life in new ways for new audiences.
Shape the future of heritage in Medway
Cllr Harinder Mahil, Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure, said: “We are delighted to be marking World Heritage Day with the launch of this exciting ten year plus programme which will shape the future of heritage in Medway. We want to further strengthen Medway’s heritage offer and support as many people and communities as possible to celebrate Medway’s people, places and stories. We hope everyone with an interest in Medway’s past will join us in July to shape vision for the role heritage plays in Medway’s future, and in the lives of residents.”
Find out more about the National Lottery Heritage Fund Heritage Places funding.