ABOUT
Proud Places is a London-wide engagement programme inspiring young people with the world around them. Through heritage projects, we introduce children aged 11 and upwards to important themes in local places… the hidden stories of London and why they matter.
The programme helps young people improve their life choices as well as their life skills. We offer site visits and craft workshops, a chance to explore London behind-the-scenes and develop local knowledge and pride. We are specialists in alternative provision schools and youth groups but also work with primary and secondary pupils across the city.
Visits are individually tailored to each group, and entirely free of charge.
The programme was developed with our Proud Places Young Ambassadors and launched during the pandemic in October 2020 with funding from the Jones Day Foundation. To date we have worked with nearly 10,000 young people, and the programme continues to expand.
Proud Places is represented on the Partners' Board of the Mayor of London's Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.
For more information on the Heritage of London Trust and our restoration projects go to our webpage heritageoflondon.org.
PROJECTS
All sites restored by the Heritage of London Trust are available for Proud Places site visit bookings. For a full list of the Heritage of London Trust's projects by borough click here.
"Not gonna lie, this was genuinely the best day we've had yet! Every week I think it's not gonna top the last and it does! This is the best day I've ever had! I'll say to my mates, what did YOU do this Wednesday?! NOTHING.”
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– Devon, aged 19
“How can you not touch this site… feel it! I’m going to come every day after school to pay my tribute… It makes you kind of appreciate the history, like the culture of the area you’re living in. It makes you feel like you have an obligation to uphold this much history in your local area.”
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– Ben, aged 16
Find out a little more about the Proud Places experience!
8000+
YOUNG
PEOPLE
40
SITES
33
LONDON BOROUGHS
GALLERY
Learning new skillsProud Places introduces young people to new skills such as stonemasonry. | Project launchesPupils are invited to attend their local heritage site launches once restoration is complete. | Speaking to expertsProud Places connects young people and industry professionals. |
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Proud Prospects at Jones DayYear 10s go to the Jones Day HQ to partake in a mock 'Dragons Den' pitching restoration projects. | Sundial making workshopYoung people creating their own sundials after visiting the Seven Dials monument in covent garden. | Exploring hidden heritageA young person from a pupil referral unit examines a horse's bridle at Cranford Stables. |
Wanstead GrottoA Proud Places visit at Wanstead Grotto, locked to the public for over 100 years. | Whitechapel FountainLocal pupils learn about different mortar compositions from a conservator | Promenade Approach GatesPupils discover different flames blacksmiths use while they restore a park entrance in Chiswick |
Mount Clare Temple ParthenonExploring a temple hidden away in West London | Proud Places stone masonryA young person from a pupil referral unit tries their hand at stone masonry. | Kentish Drivers MuralLocal pupils use binoculars to examine the mural before its restoration on Old Kent Road. |
Poetry workshopsA young person shows her poem at our literacy workshop inspired by a visit to Pope's Grotto. | Proud ProspectsPupils learn new skills in presentation and confidence as part of our Proud Prospects workshops | Proud Places at Stonemasonry workshop 4_editedA young person being taught by stone mason, leading him to rethink his career options. |
GET INVOLVED
Site visits are fully risk-assessed and groups can be as small as necessary.