MAKING OUR MARK - open for new project applications
Would your Walsall-based community group like to share your unique heritage stories?
Making Our Mark celebrates the rich and diverse heritage of Walsall’s communities. Facilitated by Creative Black Country (CBC) and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this project empowers local groups to uncover and share their untold heritage stories.
Why Get Involved?
This program helps your community:
Build skills in heritage storytelling.
Strengthen Walsall’s heritage sector.
Connect, learn, and celebrate shared histories.
It’s up to you which heritage stories you’d like to explore, and we’re here to support great ideas that matter to your community.
Who CBC aims to support through Making Our Mark:
Community groups in Walsall who:
Are new to heritage activities.
May not typically have access to heritage opportunities.
Want to connect with others and celebrate their unique stories.
What counts as a community group?
Community groups can include:
Cultural or heritage organisations.
Youth groups or clubs.
Religious or faith-based organisations.
Neighbourhood associations.
Support groups for specific demographics, such as parents, older adults, or individuals with disabilities.
How CBC can support your idea:
CBC’s dedicated Heritage Adviser will support you at every step, and you can chat to them, even before putting an application forward
Explore: Understand heritage and gather inspiration by visiting heritage sites, museums, or cultural events, and attending heritage workshops or talks.
Make: Develop your heritage project with support for research, storytelling, and skill-building, including project planning, fundraising, and using archives or digital tools.
Share: Bring your stories to life and reach wider audiences using creative documentation and digital platforms.
You’ll receive:
A grant of up to £1,600 to help deliver your idea, provided you complete all three stages of the project, including evaluation.
Free training by industry experts in areas like oral storytelling, film and photography, social media, and more.
A member of your group is required to attend the following in person sessions:
Making Our Mark Induction - Wednesday 4th February 2026. 6.00pm - 8.30pm
Story skills training - Wednesday 11th February 2026. 6.00pm - 8.30pm
Walsall Archives tour - Wednesday 25th February 2026. 11.00am - 12.30pm
Please note that there will also be online sessions that you will be required to attend.
Access to the Walsall Heritage Network, connecting you with other groups to share ideas and collaborate.
Invitations to four heritage celebration events to showcase your work and learn from others.
Support from One Walsall and Walsall Voluntary Community Sector Locality Leads to find additional funding or develop future project plans.
Guidance on making your work accessible for D/deaf or Disabled participants, such as BSL or captions.
Tips for environmentally friendly practices, like using recycled materials.
Key Program Details:
We’ll be working with up to 5 groups in each of the 3 cohorts
Groups need their own community bank account and public liability insurance (we can guide you if you're unsure).
How to Get Started:
To find out more or discuss your idea, contact us at mom@creativeblackcountry.co.uk
Key dates for 2025 cohort 2 intake:
Applications open: Monday November 3rd, 2025
Application deadline: Friday December 12th, 2025
Notifications to successful applicants: Week beginning January 19th, 2026
DOWNLOAD the application and monitoring form below.
Download the application form here.
Download the monitoring form here.
Please send BOTH forms to mom@creativeblackcountry.co.uk
If you require these forms in a different format or have access needs please get in touch.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Making Our Mark is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to support communities based in Walsall to celebrate their rich and diverse heritage.