The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has concluded its tailored review of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), noting that the ‘functions of distributing National Lottery funding and providing a fund of last resort for heritage at risk of loss to the nation remained vital’, while the HLF has offered its own interim responses.
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DCMS writes:
The review sought to provide assurance of the continuing need for the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), including its activities operating as the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), and to identify opportunities to strengthen its effectiveness, efficiency and governance. The review concluded that the organisation’s functions of distributing National Lottery funding and providing a fund of last resort for heritage at risk of loss to the nation remained vital, and should continue to be delivered in the current model of a Non-Departmental Public Body.
The review found that HLF’s role in distributing funding for heritage was seen as crucial to the conservation of heritage assets, to engaging communities across the UK with their heritage, and to providing support for heritage organisations to survive and thrive.
Whilst HLF has a good reputation in the sector, the review found scope for it to become a more strategic organisation by clarifying its priorities; strengthening its partnerships with other heritage organisations and National Lottery distributors; using its data more effectively; and focusing on supporting the sustainability of the heritage sector and heritage assets, including by supporting skills capability in key areas such as digital engagement.
The review also recommended that HLF focus its efforts to promote inclusion and diversity by developing a strategy for engaging underrepresented groups and by streamlining its grant application processes. Whilst HLF is a relatively lean organisation, the review supported its efforts to become more efficient, including by reducing its estate, developing an internal digital strategy, and ensuring its consultant network – the Register of Support Services – is cost-effective.
Additionally, there are recommendations for the governments of the UK to clarify priorities for the heritage sector, to update the Policy Directions given to HLF, and to work with HLF to promote the intrinsic, economic and social value of heritage.
The review was carried out by DCMS with input from the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive given the UK-wide nature of NHMF/HLF. The review was carried out with the full participation of NHMF/HLF, and an independent Challenge Panel was appointed to assure its robustness and impartiality.
The review gathered evidence from a range of stakeholders from across government, from the cultural and natural heritage sectors and others with an interest in heritage, and through a public consultation. I would like to thank all those who contributed evidence to the review.
HLF writes:
The review is a positive endorsement of our work and its breadth, and shows that HLF is a highly regarded organisation that has transformed communities and heritage across the UK.
Tailored reviews take place for all non-departmental public bodies every few years and DCMS consulted with our stakeholders to find out their views about how we are working.
DCMS concluded that we perform well as an organisation, with 79% of survey respondents seeing us as a ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ effective funding body.
Our staff are highly regarded as open, helpful and valuable sources of support, and our role as a UK-wide funder with a sole focus on heritage is highly valued.
The review notes that HLF is operating within the context of reducing National Lottery receipts and local authority funding. As a result, it recommends that HLF should become more strategic, effective and efficient to ensure National Lottery funding continues to support the resilience of the heritage sector, benefits people and preserves heritage for future generations.
The review makes a series of recommendations for how we can further strengthen our effectiveness and performance. These include clarifying our priorities in our upcoming Strategic Framework, which we will be consulting on in the New Year, and strengthening our strategic partnerships with other funders, experts and Governments across the UK.
Many of the recommendations are already being implemented, including strengthening communications, data management, research and evaluation. We have published an implementation plan to deliver the recommendations. We will continue to work hard with DCMS and other partners, to ensure maximum value for National Lottery players and the best possible support for the heritage sector.
See the recommendations from DCMS and read the DCMS report
See Ros Kerslake’s personal circular on HLF’s future plans and the HLF article
