The Initiative was launched in 1990, under the auspices of the Institute of Welsh Affairs at the National Museum and Gallery Cardiff, and was subsequently registered as an independent Charitable Trust. The Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative is run by a group of unpaid volunteers: these include history teachers, heads of schools, university professors, schools’ inspectors, museum officers, archivists, television and radio programs producers and businessmen.

The aim of the Initiative is to encourage young people in primary and secondary schools in Wales to take greater interest in their heritage and the contribution made to it by their families and communities and to help and preserve their own heritage. We hope to advance the education of young people in Wales through the study of its history and culture.

Each year, the Welsh Heritage Initiative Committee invites infant, primary, special and secondary schools, as well as further education colleges to undertake heritage projects and to submit them for the nation-wide heritage competition. These projects require research, collection of materials, analysis and evaluation. They may result in booklets, exhibitions, performances, restoration and other forms of contribution to heritage. Young peoples’ work is assessed, taking also into account the appropriate level of literacy, numeracy, and information technology skills. Pupils are encouraged to involve their community and people of different generations in their projects and to disseminate their findings. All schools entering the competition are visited by judges and prizes are awarded for the best projects in each category: infant, primary, special and secondary schools. These prizes are presented by the sponsors who donated them at an Awards Ceremony.