History in the Making

Updated 15 June 2026

History in the Making is a grant that enables underrepresented young people (aged 13-25) to discover, engage, and connect with their local stories and ensure the history that matters to them is not forgotten. Using different art forms, from artworks and murals to immersive walking trails and theatre productions, young people decide who and what to celebrate and how best to do it.

Our own panel of Young Advisers is central to History the Making. They helped define the programme's identity and help decide who and what we fund.

Previous round

Following an open callout in May 2024, we funded 21 fantastic new projects across the country. Projects included new murals in the Byker Wall estate in Newcastle, a podcast about a mosque in Newham and an AR trail exploring the queer histories of King’s Lynn. We also partnered with Bradford 2025, UK City of Culture, to fund four amazing projects in Bradford. Find out more about these projects below.

On the Map, Newham
Young people in Newham explored the history of their mosque and its community. They created podcasts, video reels, and a mural at the masjid commemorating their work.
Metal Culture, Peterborough
Young people created an art trail across Peterborough across the city to spark dialogue and celebrate the overlooked histories of local young people.
Uncovering Hidden Histories, Gateshead
Young people in Gateshead led this exploration of local LGBTQIA+ history. They designed new plaques to celebrate their findings.

Read about the projects from the previous round

All completed projects

History in the Making has been running since 2023. Previous projects have explored topics as diverse as multiculturalism at Hadrian’s Wall, queer histories on the Yorkshire coast, and ‘Suffrajitsu’ in Wakefield. Read about all of the projects that have been completed.

Life of the Wall, Newcastle
Inspired by nearby Hadrian’s Wall, young people in Newcastle explored Roman history and built a community pizza oven to mark their findings.
Sounds of Westoe Colliery, South Shields
Autism Able stands on the original site of Westoe Colliery. Their young people investigated the rich history of the area before creating soundscapes and an audio tour.
Big History, Bright Future, Rotherham
Challenging the often-negative perceptions of their hometown, young people in Rotherham created a new mural celebrating Slovak and Roma communities in the area.