Matthew Mckeague
@memckeague.bsky.social
CEO @archhfund.bsky.social | communities, built environment & social infrastructure | interested in all kinds of places | music and running most of the rest of the time
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
BREAKING NEWS: We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the Southbank Centre - the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall and skaters undercroft - has finally been Grade II listed by DCMS after a 35 year long campaign.
➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/southba...
➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/southba...
February 10, 2026 at 7:03 AM
BREAKING NEWS: We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the Southbank Centre - the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall and skaters undercroft - has finally been Grade II listed by DCMS after a 35 year long campaign.
➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/southba...
➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/southba...
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
Interesting, rather sad piece on Ireland's disappearing small town hotels. NESPT has done some excellent work bringing hotel and holiday accommodation back to small towns in NE Scotland, so maybe there is hope for some of these www.scotsman.com/news/people/....
February 7, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Interesting, rather sad piece on Ireland's disappearing small town hotels. NESPT has done some excellent work bringing hotel and holiday accommodation back to small towns in NE Scotland, so maybe there is hope for some of these www.scotsman.com/news/people/....
Interesting, rather sad piece on Ireland's disappearing small town hotels. NESPT has done some excellent work bringing hotel and holiday accommodation back to small towns in NE Scotland, so maybe there is hope for some of these www.scotsman.com/news/people/....
February 7, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Interesting, rather sad piece on Ireland's disappearing small town hotels. NESPT has done some excellent work bringing hotel and holiday accommodation back to small towns in NE Scotland, so maybe there is hope for some of these www.scotsman.com/news/people/....
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
Further funding success for three #AHFsupported projects in Scotland! 🎉
Congratulations to the projects that have secured significant grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help progress with their plans: Marbles Warehouse at Portsoy Old Harbour, Grant Lodge, and The Belmont Cinema.
Congratulations to the projects that have secured significant grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help progress with their plans: Marbles Warehouse at Portsoy Old Harbour, Grant Lodge, and The Belmont Cinema.
February 6, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Further funding success for three #AHFsupported projects in Scotland! 🎉
Congratulations to the projects that have secured significant grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help progress with their plans: Marbles Warehouse at Portsoy Old Harbour, Grant Lodge, and The Belmont Cinema.
Congratulations to the projects that have secured significant grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help progress with their plans: Marbles Warehouse at Portsoy Old Harbour, Grant Lodge, and The Belmont Cinema.
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
Belfast’s @riddelswarehouse.bsky.social looked incredible for our launch night. The exhibition is open to the public from the 6th until 18th Feb.
If you're in town, come see how we’re supporting heritage across the UK. Don’t miss the start of the tour!
#Architecture #Heritage #Belfast
If you're in town, come see how we’re supporting heritage across the UK. Don’t miss the start of the tour!
#Architecture #Heritage #Belfast
February 5, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Belfast’s @riddelswarehouse.bsky.social looked incredible for our launch night. The exhibition is open to the public from the 6th until 18th Feb.
If you're in town, come see how we’re supporting heritage across the UK. Don’t miss the start of the tour!
#Architecture #Heritage #Belfast
If you're in town, come see how we’re supporting heritage across the UK. Don’t miss the start of the tour!
#Architecture #Heritage #Belfast
We like to give people authentic experiences @archhfund.org.uk of out of use historic buildings, so lovely to see so many people & supporters turning out at a slightly chilly Riddel's Warehouse in Belfast last night for the launch of our 50th exhibition. It looks spot on & is here until 18th Feb!
February 5, 2026 at 7:36 AM
We like to give people authentic experiences @archhfund.org.uk of out of use historic buildings, so lovely to see so many people & supporters turning out at a slightly chilly Riddel's Warehouse in Belfast last night for the launch of our 50th exhibition. It looks spot on & is here until 18th Feb!
Chelsea have let the Sky commentary team down here.
February 3, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Chelsea have let the Sky commentary team down here.
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
Belfast is the first stop!
We’re launching our 50th Anniversary UK tour this week at Riddel’s Warehouse on the 6th of February. See 50 years of heritage-led regeneration before the exhibition heads to Glasgow, Cardiff, and London.
#AHF50 #Belfast #Heritage @riddelswarehouse.bsky.social
We’re launching our 50th Anniversary UK tour this week at Riddel’s Warehouse on the 6th of February. See 50 years of heritage-led regeneration before the exhibition heads to Glasgow, Cardiff, and London.
#AHF50 #Belfast #Heritage @riddelswarehouse.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Belfast is the first stop!
We’re launching our 50th Anniversary UK tour this week at Riddel’s Warehouse on the 6th of February. See 50 years of heritage-led regeneration before the exhibition heads to Glasgow, Cardiff, and London.
#AHF50 #Belfast #Heritage @riddelswarehouse.bsky.social
We’re launching our 50th Anniversary UK tour this week at Riddel’s Warehouse on the 6th of February. See 50 years of heritage-led regeneration before the exhibition heads to Glasgow, Cardiff, and London.
#AHF50 #Belfast #Heritage @riddelswarehouse.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
'The project creates a space for the future that connects to the past.' Nice piece by @rowanmoore.bsky.social on Millport Town Hall, a new community space on Great Cumbrae 🏴. One we supported @archhfund.org.uk in the early stages. @gordonbarr.scot
February 1, 2026 at 7:51 PM
'The project creates a space for the future that connects to the past.' Nice piece by @rowanmoore.bsky.social on Millport Town Hall, a new community space on Great Cumbrae 🏴. One we supported @archhfund.org.uk in the early stages. @gordonbarr.scot
'The project creates a space for the future that connects to the past.' Nice piece by @rowanmoore.bsky.social on Millport Town Hall, a new community space on Great Cumbrae 🏴. One we supported @archhfund.org.uk in the early stages. @gordonbarr.scot
February 1, 2026 at 7:51 PM
'The project creates a space for the future that connects to the past.' Nice piece by @rowanmoore.bsky.social on Millport Town Hall, a new community space on Great Cumbrae 🏴. One we supported @archhfund.org.uk in the early stages. @gordonbarr.scot
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
“Much of the commentary reads as if improving high streets is not a good in itself, a measure important in enhancing people’s lives, but is primarily a means of undermining the Reform vote or staunching Labour’s decline.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Britain’s deprived areas need attention for their own sak...
Numerous studies warn about pockets of deep poverty, but little is done by sitting governments until they feel under threat
observer.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:23 AM
“Much of the commentary reads as if improving high streets is not a good in itself, a measure important in enhancing people’s lives, but is primarily a means of undermining the Reform vote or staunching Labour’s decline.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Took in the George in Wickham Market on today's 🚲 ride. A top community owned pub we helped @archhfund.org.uk in the early stages of its redevelopment following a fire. It's now looking👌
February 1, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Took in the George in Wickham Market on today's 🚲 ride. A top community owned pub we helped @archhfund.org.uk in the early stages of its redevelopment following a fire. It's now looking👌
'Many of these new groups want their communities to own, manage and profit from enterprises far larger than the pubs and post offices once associated with community control. They want to take on the town.' > nice piece on the rise of #communityownership www.ft.com/content/a604....
Power to the parish: can community ownership successfully scale up?
The UK government has hopes of doubling the size of the co-operative sector, evolving the model beyond post offices and pubs to brownfield sites and storied estates
www.ft.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:59 PM
'Many of these new groups want their communities to own, manage and profit from enterprises far larger than the pubs and post offices once associated with community control. They want to take on the town.' > nice piece on the rise of #communityownership www.ft.com/content/a604....
'The Economics of Belonging' by @martinsandbu.ft.com also very clear on this. Big role for civil society / social enterprises helping deliver places that are nice to live in e.g. 👉 architecturetoday.co.uk/the-butterma....
January 30, 2026 at 10:35 AM
'The Economics of Belonging' by @martinsandbu.ft.com also very clear on this. Big role for civil society / social enterprises helping deliver places that are nice to live in e.g. 👉 architecturetoday.co.uk/the-butterma....
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
If we want to make places better, we need to create good jobs in them 👇
Creating good jobs (in deprived) areas requires:
- Transport infrastructure
- Creating places that are nice to live in. Culture matters for local growth
- Direct job creation by the state
h/t @drjennings.bsky.social
Creating good jobs (in deprived) areas requires:
- Transport infrastructure
- Creating places that are nice to live in. Culture matters for local growth
- Direct job creation by the state
h/t @drjennings.bsky.social
January 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM
If we want to make places better, we need to create good jobs in them 👇
Creating good jobs (in deprived) areas requires:
- Transport infrastructure
- Creating places that are nice to live in. Culture matters for local growth
- Direct job creation by the state
h/t @drjennings.bsky.social
Creating good jobs (in deprived) areas requires:
- Transport infrastructure
- Creating places that are nice to live in. Culture matters for local growth
- Direct job creation by the state
h/t @drjennings.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
As @memckeague.bsky.social said earlier, this is a good idea. And these conversations are already happening in places up and down the country.
Such as the work of Nudge Community Builders in Plymouth. Their vision is for Union Street to be a place "the whole world loves again".
Such as the work of Nudge Community Builders in Plymouth. Their vision is for Union Street to be a place "the whole world loves again".
January 28, 2026 at 11:57 AM
As @memckeague.bsky.social said earlier, this is a good idea. And these conversations are already happening in places up and down the country.
Such as the work of Nudge Community Builders in Plymouth. Their vision is for Union Street to be a place "the whole world loves again".
Such as the work of Nudge Community Builders in Plymouth. Their vision is for Union Street to be a place "the whole world loves again".
This is a good idea. Need to look at places like Dumfries that have been having this conversation a while and how they (and others) are approaching it www.bbc.co.uk/news/article....
January 28, 2026 at 11:17 AM
This is a good idea. Need to look at places like Dumfries that have been having this conversation a while and how they (and others) are approaching it www.bbc.co.uk/news/article....
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
Read the full report here -> www.southampton.ac.uk/publicpolicy...
January 28, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Read the full report here -> www.southampton.ac.uk/publicpolicy...
Good news for a miserable morning. Two housing projects we have been involved in @archhfund.org.uk taking big steps forward. Keelman's Hospital in Newcastle, the Grade II* former keelman almhouses now being turned into affordable housing by @twbpt.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026....
Almshouse to haunted student digs: historic Newcastle building to become affordable homes
Keelmen’s hospital, which housed dockers in 1700s, awarded £4.6m lottery grant after lying empty for 16 years
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Good news for a miserable morning. Two housing projects we have been involved in @archhfund.org.uk taking big steps forward. Keelman's Hospital in Newcastle, the Grade II* former keelman almhouses now being turned into affordable housing by @twbpt.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026....
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
🚀 It’s here.
Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change.
Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change.
Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop
Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change.
Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change.
Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop
January 26, 2026 at 9:30 AM
🚀 It’s here.
Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change.
Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change.
Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop
Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change.
Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change.
Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop
'A few years ago, BBC Radio 6 Music dubbed Halifax “the Shoreditch of the north” after the former mill town’s unlikely metamorphosis into a hipster haven...residents cringed...' www.theguardian.com/culture/2026... > have always thought Halifax should due for slander...
‘The Village of the Damned was shot here – then George Harrison moved in’: our UK town of culture nominations
With the search for the country’s first town of culture under way, Guardian writers pick their favourite spots for art, architecture, food, festivals, music and celeb spotting
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:41 PM
'A few years ago, BBC Radio 6 Music dubbed Halifax “the Shoreditch of the north” after the former mill town’s unlikely metamorphosis into a hipster haven...residents cringed...' www.theguardian.com/culture/2026... > have always thought Halifax should due for slander...
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
HUGE NEWS! We are so pleased to announce that investment of £46m from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will enable the expansion of our #HeritageRevivalFund through to 2030. ⬇️
ahfund.org.uk/what-we-do/i...
(1/4)
ahfund.org.uk/what-we-do/i...
(1/4)
January 22, 2026 at 5:28 PM
HUGE NEWS! We are so pleased to announce that investment of £46m from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will enable the expansion of our #HeritageRevivalFund through to 2030. ⬇️
ahfund.org.uk/what-we-do/i...
(1/4)
ahfund.org.uk/what-we-do/i...
(1/4)
Reposted by Matthew Mckeague
Along with this news, we are also delighted to be announcing 10 new Capital Grants, totalling £2.8 million, awarded through the #HeritageRevivalFund in December 2025. (3/4)
January 22, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Along with this news, we are also delighted to be announcing 10 new Capital Grants, totalling £2.8 million, awarded through the #HeritageRevivalFund in December 2025. (3/4)