Each grant, worth £10,000, has been awarded to a collaborative project within one of the UK’s UNESCO regional clusters. Together, these projects demonstrate the power of partnership across the UK UNESCO Network bringing sites together to address shared challenges, test innovative ideas, and strengthen long-term sustainability. Crucially, they place communities at the heart of UNESCO activity, creating new opportunities for people to engage with heritage, improve wellbeing, and shape the future of their local places.
The Community Grants scheme was designed to support projects that deepen collaboration between UNESCO-designated sites while promoting heritage, environmental responsibility, inclusion, and organisational resilience.
Northern Ireland – “Our Special Places”
In Northern Ireland, the five UNESCO designations are coming together to deliver a high-quality, professionally produced video series designed to raise awareness of the region’s UNESCO sites. The series will include one lead film introducing all five sites, alongside five short films highlighting the distinct character, global significance, and local relevance of each designation .
The films will be launched at a dedicated event for Northern Ireland’s elected representatives, including Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), helping to strengthen understanding of the value and diversity of UNESCO designations and support informed decision-making. Following the launch, the series will be shared widely through social media and partner networks to reach audiences locally, nationally, and internationally .
Scotland – Creative Cities Living Heritage Residency Programme
In Scotland, a new pilot residency programme will bring together UNESCO Creative Cities with natural and heritage sites to foster artistic collaboration and knowledge exchange. Four artists will take part in artist residencies, each immersed in a paired cultural and environmental setting .
Through these residencies, artists will create new work inspired by place, with outputs shared through digital platforms and public engagement activity. As a pilot, the programme will test a model for future collaboration between creative and heritage sectors, while building partnerships and capacity across the Scottish UNESCO network .
South West England – UNESCO Sites for Everyone
Across the South West, eight UNESCO sites are working in partnership with Great Western Railway to deliver a multi-platform campaign promoting sustainable, rail-based tourism. The project includes a dedicated web presence hosted on the GWR platform, featuring curated itineraries that encourage visitors to explore UNESCO sites by train .
Supported by a coordinated poster campaign across railway stations and shared branding across partner sites, the initiative has already reached a key milestone with the successful launch of its digital hub and trail on 9 April. Visitors can explore the routes here: https://exploreunescosouthwesttrails.co.uk/
By promoting rail travel and improving access to information, the project aims to increase awareness of UNESCO sites, strengthen collaboration with tourism partners, and encourage more sustainable visitor behaviours across the region.
Midlands and Northern England – Industrial Heritage Trail
In the Midlands and Northern England, a wide partnership of UNESCO designations is developing a UK-wide Industrial Heritage Trail that connects sites through a shared narrative of industry, innovation, and social change. The project will create a central digital platform featuring site content and immersive interpretation, alongside a downloadable and printable trail map .
A new National Industrial Heritage Day will also be introduced to engage audiences particularly young people and raise the profile of industrial heritage across the UK. By linking sites and sharing stories, the project aims to strengthen collaboration, improve accessibility, and encourage sustainable travel between locations.
Wales – Heritage for Community Wellbeing & Peacebuilding
In Wales, UNESCO partners are delivering a series of place-based workshops exploring how heritage can support community wellbeing and peacebuilding. Workshops at Dyfi Biosphere, Fforest Fawr Geopark, and GeoMôn Global Geopark will each focus on different themes, including relationships with nature, cultural identity, and health and wellbeing .
The programme has already begun, with the first workshop held on 4 March, which was fully booked. Three further sessions are planned, followed by a national online event to bring together learning and shape future collaboration. You can read more about the first workshop here: https://www.dyfibiosphere.wales/post/a-voice-for-nature-as-we-build-peace
By bringing together stakeholders from community, academic, health, and heritage sectors, the project aims to develop practical approaches to heritage-led wellbeing that can be shared across Wales .
London & South East – The Magic of Storybuilding
In London and the South East, World Heritage Sites are collaborating on a project exploring multivocal and environmentally focused storytelling. Through a programme of site visits, stakeholder interviews, workshops, and public lectures, the project will investigate how heritage and environmental narratives are developed and shared .
Participatory workshops will involve communities in shaping new stories, while creative outputs including light installations will help communicate findings to wider audiences. The project will produce a practical toolkit to support sites in developing more inclusive, engaging, and sustainability-focused storytelling approaches.
Building a Stronger UK UNESCO Network
The six funded projects reflect the diversity and ambition of the UK UNESCO Network. From sustainable tourism and digital storytelling to wellbeing and industrial heritage, each initiative demonstrates how collaboration can unlock new opportunities, strengthen resilience, and deliver meaningful benefits for communities across the UK.
All projects are expected to leverage match funding and in-kind support, ensuring that the Community Grants act as a catalyst for larger-scale investment and long-term partnerships.
Activities will be delivered through to July 2026, with outcomes contributing to the wider evaluation of the Local to Global 2.0 programme and helping shape the future of collaboration across UNESCO sites in the UK
Jane Powell, Dyfi UNESCO Biosphere, said:
“In Wales, we began by asking how UNESCO’s mission is lived out across our sites today. What does peace-building look like 80 years on, and how can nature and heritage contribute to that? Through the Local to Global Community Grant, we’re delivering a series of workshops that explore each place's unique strengths while building stronger connections across the network. This creates real benefits for communities through improved wellbeing, deeper engagement with heritage, and new opportunities for collaboration that help shape a better future.”
Andy Bell, North Devon UNESCO Biosphere, said:
“UNESCO Sites for Everyone reflects a shared ambition to connect people with the South West’s internationally recognised landscapes in ways that are low‑carbon, accessible, and community‑centred. By collaborating across eight UNESCO sites and with Great Western Railway, we are promoting rail as a simple and sustainable way to experience these special places. The project supports local communities by encouraging longer, more meaningful visits that respect nature and heritage. It shows how partnership working can help deliver a greener future for tourism across the region.”
Nushin Hussain, Project Implementation Manager, said:
"The Community Grants have proven to be a powerful catalyst for collaboration across the UK UNESCO Network, enabling partners to come together around shared challenges and opportunities in ways that are both innovative and locally grounded. What stands out most is how these projects place communities at the heart of UNESCO activity, creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect with heritage, enhance wellbeing, and actively shape the future of their places.
The breadth and ambition of the funded initiatives clearly demonstrate the value of this investment. From sustainable tourism and creative partnerships to wellbeing and storytelling, the grants have strengthened relationships across sites while delivering tangible benefits for communities.
This programme provides strong validation of the Community Grants model as an effective and impactful mechanism for driving collaboration, building resilience, and unlocking the full potential of the UK UNESCO Network.”
