The project ‘Local to Global - building a resilient UNESCO network in the UK’ will support Site Coordinators of UNESCO sites across the UK to engage new audiences, develop community celebration of world-class natural and cultural heritage, and share best practice through a mutually supportive and more resilient network. It will do so by focussing on unlocking the potential of site Management Plans (a condition of UNESCO status), which now place emphasis on participatory approaches to engage local community organisations and more diverse audiences. This broader approach to engagement will help achieve longterm sustainability of the UK’s UNESCO sites including meeting the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda.
The grant £250k over three financial years will use the good practice that undoubtedly exists in UK UNESCO designations to exchange thinking across natural and cultural heritage sites. It will develop innovative models of good practice at a small scale with resources that can then be rolled out to benefit a larger number in future and to other types of UNESCO designations.
The UK is home to 43 UNESCO land based designated sites geographically covering 12% of the country and which contain the UK’s most prized cultural and natural heritage. They form part of a global network of sites in over 193 countries and covering over 10 million km2 – an area covering the geographical size of the United States of America.
The project is the direct result of the National Value of UNESCO to the UK report (2020), which found that UNESCO sites are extensive partnerships working with thousands of local stakeholders to conserve and protect their internationally significant cultural and natural heritage but that this powerful network is under-utilised. It also found that UNESCO status alone helped 76 UK UNESCO sites to generate at least £151 million per annum in additional funding.
The project will also help build the resilience of the UK National Commission for UNESCO to better support the network of UNESCO sites and fulfil its lead sectoral role. Through improved skills and knowledge in communications, fundraising and digital practice, the UKNC will initiate joint projects, provide focused support, advice, and resources, including a central place to showcase designated sites.
