Reframing engagement to unlock relevance, resilience, and funding
The Heritage Alliance’s ‘Heritage on the Brink’ report, published in 2024, highlights many of the same concerns I have been exploring in my own work, particularly the need to reposition heritage sites for relevance, reuse, and public confidence. Heritage sites across the UK are under pressure like never before. In 2024 alone, 155 buildings were added to Historic England’s at-risk register. Only 59% of organisations say they feel confident about the future. One in three has delayed essential repairs.
These aren’t just buildings. They’re anchors for identity, culture, and investment — and they need more than protection. They need repositioning.
That’s why I’ve published a new white paper: 👉 Download “Heritage Needs Repositioning, Not Just Preservation” (PDF)
It introduces a strategic framework I call the 4Cs of Heritage Storytelling — Context, Challenge, Collaboration, Change, based on over 30 years of work helping heritage venues, councils, and brands rethink how they engage the public and funders.
The white paper includes real case studies from Brighton City Airport, Worthing Dome Cinema, Royal Cinemas, and the National Federation of Sub Postmasters — and responds directly to the sector’s need for tools, not just advocacy.
If you’re working on a heritage project, whether you’re a planner, funder, venue manager, or architect, I hope this gives you something practical and strategic to work with.
Heritage isn’t static. It’s active. And if we want people to invest in it, we have to give them something they can see themselves in.
Let me know what you think.
– Vicky (link to contact form)
