The Liliesleaf Trust UK

Who we are

The Liliesleaf Trust UK (TLTU) is a Registered Charity established in 2018 to advance public

knowledge of the movement against apartheid (MAA) and the UK’s important role in this

struggle. Drawing from this world-changing history; we promote solidarity, social justice,

equality, reconciliation, and anti-racism to encourage dialogue, reflection, and positive action

for diverse contemporary communities.

Opening in 2023, we are currently building the Centre of Memory and Learning (CML) at 28 Penton Street, the former London HQ of the African National Congress in exile. The CML will become the first UK venue to explore the heritage of the MAA, unlocking the heritage of one of the most influential, Black-led social movements of the 20th Century. Through exhibitions, events, workshops, and engagement activities, it will create permanent resources that recognise the significance of this struggle within UK history, and draw from its inspiring legacy to support community resilience, empowerment, and cohesion.

We have recently received funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Mayor of London's Good Growth Fund to support the development of the CML and its programme. Currently in our Development Phase and working to fully fund the project, the opening of the CML will enable us to:

• Unlock: widespread engagement in the MAA as a profoundly empowering yet underknown

history through accessible programming built with and for currently underserved communities

• Reach: reach groups underrepresented in heritage audiences - youth, Black and Global

Majority, diaspora and migrants. Building to 60000 annual visits by year 2 post-opening both

onsite and online.

• Skills: focused programming builds participation, volunteering & employment, positive

leadership, equality & wellbeing for new generation of diverse heritage leaders

• Transform: 28 Penton Street into the CML, 260m2 of high quality, accessible indoor and

outdoor heritage engagement space, a local community hub and a resource for MAA

engagement internationally

• Launch: CML and TLTU as a new heritage offer with resilient long-term business plan

TLTU builds its programme, profile, and impact in a context of significant global disquiet. When the impacts of Covid-19 are exposing and intensifying structural inequality between communities, post-Brexit xenophobia and the need to state clearly that Black Lives Matter remains – learning from MAA heritage speaks more profoundly than ever to many of the most pressing social and racial equality issues of the contemporary moment. Drawing from a uniquely relevant past, it foregrounds international dialogue on issues such as institutional and systemic racism; community resilience; collaboration and activism; and decolonising and diversifying the curriculum. Our organisation celebrates the important role of migrant, diasporic, and Black communities in UK and global cultural history; highlighting the crucial efforts of a diverse group of people (in gender, ethnicity, geography, heritage, politics and religion) towards effecting societal change.