Youth Engagement
We offer a wide range of opportunities for young people aged 5–30, from creative grants and skills programmes to apprenticeships, wellbeing initiatives, and resources for teachers. Young Advisers shape our decisions and help direct funding to youth-led heritage projects.
Through programmes such as History in the Making, Work Experience, Future Talent Placements Programme, and heritage apprenticeships, young people build skills, confidence, and real-world experience.
Our work supports the Government’s National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, by championing youth voice, inclusive learning, wellbeing, and clear pathways into employment.
Young Advisers
Our Young Advisers are 10 young people from across the country and are central to our mission to engage more young people with England’s heritage.
They work across our organisation, sharing their lived experiences, creating digital content and advising on a variety of projects and issues. They play a vital role in shaping our youth-centred History in the Making programme, helping decide which projects receive funding and guiding its future direction. We value their time and expertise, so all our Young Advisers are paid.
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
History in the Making
History in the Making is a grant that enables underrepresented young people (aged 13-25) to explore and share the local stories that matter to them. Through art forms ranging from visual art and murals to immersive trails and theatre, young people decide who and what to celebrate.
Our own panel of Young Advisers is central to the programme. They shaped its programme identity and help decide which projects received funding.
Learn about the History in the Making grants
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
Virtual Work Experience
Historic England offers a free virtual work experience programme for young people aged 15+ providing an insight into careers in heritage.
‘Careers in Heritage with Historic England’, delivered in partnership with Springpod, is available ‘on demand’. Young people can register at any time and access the programme year round
Learn about Virtual Work Experience
Contact [email protected]
Future Talent Programme
Historic England is working hard to improve diversity in its workforce and inclusion in every aspect of our work.
The Future Talent Programme provides high-quality work experience for young people aged 18 to 30 from underrepresented backgrounds, helping to open up careers in the heritage sector. It includes 8-week Emerging Talent Placements for which participants receive a training bursary and 6-month paid Step Up Placements.”
Contact [email protected]
Apprenticeships at Historic England
We value apprenticeships and, in partnership with heritage organisations, are creating new apprenticeship routes into the sector.
Our apprenticeships combine real work experience with off-the-job training, leading to officially recognised qualifications, a great way to earn while you learn.
View Historic England apprenticeships
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
Heritage Apprenticeships
Heritage apprenticeships are standards created specifically for the historic environment sector. Developed by the Historic Environment Trailblazer, they ensure the sector trains and maintains a skilled workforce to care for, conserve and manage our historic environment.
For the latest heritage apprenticeships updates, visit our news page.
Explore heritage apprenticeships
Contact [email protected]
Project Rejuvenate
Rejuvenate helps vulnerable young people build skills such as resilience, critical thinking, and teamwork through hands-on heritage projects and has worked in school and youth justice settings.
In 2023, Historic England, Wessex Archaeology and Isle Heritage launched the Rejuvenate Pilot Project based on evidence gathered by earlier feasibility and test phases. Participants were shown to have built confidence and transferable skills such as resilience, critical-thinking and cooperation, all through a stronger connection to the historic environment. We continue to work to develop this model in new contexts.
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
Young Archaeologist’s Clubs
The Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC), funded by Historic England, is the only UK-wide club where 8 – 16-year-olds can participate in real archaeology. YAC is run by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and it has a growing network of local branches across the UK.
Find out about Young Archaeologists' Club
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
Heritage Youth Partnership
Funded by Historic England and run by the Youth United Foundation, the Heritage Youth Partnership fosters long-term partnerships between heritage and uniformed youth organisations, supporting youth-led heritage exploration and social action. It strengthens young people’s wellbeing and sense of belonging through local heritage engagement.
Find out about Heritage Youth Partnership
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
School Resources
We want every child to be inspired by their local heritage and every teacher to have brilliant resources to use inside and outside the classroom.
We provide free online learning resources for teachers, Local History Packs in partnership with Teacher’s Pet and bespoke Archive Resource Packs . Our materials inspire children and give teachers practical tools to explore heritage inside and outside the classroom. Here, you can find out more about the resources we have to offer and watch our video about the work of Historic England.
Browse school heritage resources
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
Heritage Schools
Heritage Schools programme helps children understand their local heritage and its significance. The programme provides free training and support for teachers in schools with higher numbers of disadvantaged children. It also provides free resources and training webinars for any school to access.
Explore the Heritage Schools programme
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
The Heritage Schools Award Hub
The Heritage Schools Award celebrates schools that embed local heritage in their curriculum. The Hub provides guidance, free resources and step by step support for teachers and a path for schools to gain national recognition.
Visit the Heritage Schools Award Hub
Contact [email protected] to work with us.
Historic England Youth
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Email
[email protected]