Charities are among a raft of heritage organisations to receive more than £18m in government funding.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has announced that more than 50 heritage and culture organisations are to receive funding in the latest round of allocations of the government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.

The funding has been split with 22 heritage organisations receiving £13.5m, while 33 independent cinemas will share £5m.

Among those benefitting is the Black Country Living Museum, which has received a grant of £3.74m for a project exploring the history of the region in the 1940-1960s.

Meanwhile, the Grade II listed Georgian lido Cleveland Pools has received £290,000 in restoration funding.

Other awards see Brighton’s Royal Pavilion receive £1m, while the Museum of Oxford Hidden Histories has received £240,000.

More than 90% of the heritage grants have been awarded to projects outside of London.

“These are all ongoing major refurbishment and restoration projects, funded by us, which have been threatened by the pandemic,” said National Lottery Heritage Fund chief executive Ros Kerslake.

“From the oldest surviving outdoor swimming baths to a Victorian pier, and from a much-loved park to an historic abbey, these are all places that will enrich hundreds of lives when they reopen. We are delighted this extra funding from the Culture Recovery Fund will ensure that these exciting projects will go ahead.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: “All over the country, this funding is protecting the venues that have shaped our history and make us proud of our communities, whilst safeguarding the livelihoods of the people that work in them.”

Earlier this year the NLHF announced that it had resumed its grant programme to prioritise projects that focus on Covid-19 recovery.

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