Equality, Diversity and Inclusion guidance
Why Equality, Diversity and Inclusion matters in heritage funding
At Historic Environment Scotland (HES), we are committed to making heritage more inclusive, representative, and equitable. Our grants programme supports this ambition by encouraging projects that actively consider and reflect the diverse people and communities of Scotland. We expect all applicants to demonstrate awareness of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and show how their projects will be welcoming and fair to all.
We are guided by the Equality Act 2010, which provides a legal framework to protect individuals' rights and promote equality of opportunity for all. As a public body, we also have responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty to eliminate discrimination, promote equality, and foster good relations among people from diverse backgrounds.
Our work is shaped by our Equality Outcomes, which outline our organisational priorities in advancing equality. We encourage all grantees to consider how their projects can contribute to these outcomes.
What we mean by Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Equality
Ensuring everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources and is treated fairly and without discrimination.
Diversity
Recognising and valuing differences in people’s backgrounds, experiences, identities, and perspectives.
Inclusion
Actively creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to participate fully.
EDI also means understanding the barriers some groups face — due to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, age, religion, or other characteristics — and taking steps to remove or reduce those barriers.
What we expect from you
We don’t expect perfection, but we do expect thoughtful planning and action. Here are key things to consider when designing your project:
Who’s involved?
Have you thought about who might be excluded from your project and why?
Have you made space for underrepresented voices, especially in decision-making or storytelling?
How will you reach people?
Are your events, materials, or communications accessible (e.g. BSL interpretation, Easy Read, different languages)?
Have you considered digital exclusion or transport barriers, especially in rural or lower-income areas?
What barriers might people face?
Does your project address physical, cultural, financial, or attitudinal barriers to participation?
Are your activities welcoming and safe for LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, or people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, economic status, and ages?
How will you promote equity?
Are there fair payment and recognition structures for collaborators, particularly community members or practitioners from marginalised groups?
How will you learn and improve?
Will you seek feedback from participants about their experiences, particularly those from underrepresented groups?
Are you open to adapting your plans if you realise more needs to be done to improve access or inclusion?
Examples of inclusive practice
Here are a few ways projects can embed EDI into their work:
Partnering with organisations that represent diverse communities (e.g. disability or youth groups)
Delivering workshops in accessible venues with step-free access and BSL interpretation (if required)
Using visual and multilingual content to engage non-English-speaking communities
Offering child-friendly or family-inclusive formats to encourage wider participation
Paying community contributors fairly and crediting their contributions clearly
What we will look for in your application
In your application, we may ask you to show:
That you’ve considered EDI at each stage of your project (planning, delivery, evaluation)
Understand who your project impacts and how you will make it inclusive.
Any steps you’re taking to ensure diverse participation, representation, or leadership
That you’re aligning with legal obligations (like the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty)
We’ll support you to do this proportionately — we’re not expecting every project to reach every audience, but we do want to see that you’ve thought carefully about inclusion.
Some things to avoid
We are unlikely to fund projects that:
Exclude groups based on protected characteristics
Make assumptions about communities without consulting them
Deliver inaccessible events or resources without mitigation
Rely on stereotypes or single narratives about a place or people
Need help or have questions?
We’re here to help. If you’re unsure how to apply EDI to your project or want advice on inclusive practice, get in touch at grants@hes.scot. We’re happy to have an informal chat or help direct you to further resources.