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Architectural Heritage Fund Impact Report 2025/26

The Architectural Heritage Fund's Impact Report 2025/26 reviews three years of its strategy. Since April 2023 it has supported 431 distinct projects across the four nations and offered 535 grants and loans, with 49% of awards going to projects in the top 30% most deprived areas. Its grants and loans have leveraged £68.7 million in additional funding into heritage-regeneration projects. 50% of projects reported buildings coming into community ownership during their grant or loan period, rising to 74% five years after funding, and 98% of projects were extremely likely to recommend AHF's support.

Report snapshot
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About

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a UK charity that helps communities find sustainable new uses for historic buildings. Through grants, loans and advice, it supports community organisations and social enterprises across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to rescue, transform and manage heritage buildings for the benefit of their places and people.

Key Metrics

431 distinct projects supported across the four nations since April 2023
£68.7 million in additional funding leveraged into heritage-regeneration projects
49% of AHF awards went to projects in the top 30% most deprived areas

Key Outcomes

  • 50% of projects reported buildings coming into community ownership during their grant or loan period, rising to 74% five years after funding
  • 92% of projects reported they gained new knowledge or skills related to delivering their project
  • 89% of projects said AHF funding and support had a significant or transformational impact on their confidence

Geography

UK-Wide

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £138,600,000 and total expenditure £108,350,000 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1068852); 5 million people welcomed through palace gates; £138.6m income...
Key Metric 2
Over 160,000 members making 300,000+ visits generating £5.8m membership income plus £814k Gift Aid; 217,400 £1 Universal Credit tickets sold; 304,000 visitors to Untold...
Key Metric 3
89% of visitors gained a better understanding of stories (discovery); 83% felt happier after their visit (joy); 76% were inspired to learn more; 28,365...
83% of visitors felt happier after their visit; 89% gained better understanding of palace stories; 94% charitable activities allocation of total expenditure; Tomorrow's Tower campaign secured £1.9m including £1m from Sandys Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
3,943 young people reached across 279 learning sessions in 16 programmes; 46 public performances reaching 8,517 audience members
Key Metric 2
100+ Emerging Professionals supported with 159 paid performance opportunities; 32% from regions beyond London; 32% from African, Asian, Caribbean or Mixed Heritage backgrounds
Key Metric 3
46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries; 46% benefit from free access (Pupil Premium, free school meals or low-income families)
Largest single concert audience of 1,500 for British Standard Time at Berlin's Konzerthaus; NYJO Under 18s alumni have gone on to Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds Conservatoire and Cambridge University