Between 2015 and 2021, grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund enabled the United Synagogue to create a new visitor experience at Willesden Jewish Cemetery and begin a major transformation to conserve its rich heritage for future generations.

The resulting House of Life heritage project established a new Heritage Centre and garden areas, restored listed buildings and significant memorials, and introduced exhibitions, guided walks, and events to engage new audiences with the history of this remarkable site — the resting place of many leading figures in Anglo-Jewish life.

The project has involved hundreds of volunteers and welcomed thousands of visitors, opening up the cemetery as a place of learning, reflection, and community connection. As a national Jewish heritage site, the House of Life continues to share stories of memory, migration, and belonging for generations to come.