Purpose: Under the Heritage Grants scheme funding is available for projects that relate to the national, regional or local heritage of the UK. To be eligible for funding a project must help people to learn about their own and other people’s heritage, conserve the UK’s diverse heritage for present and future generations to experience and enjoy;  and help more people, and a wider range of people, to take an active part in and make decisions about heritage.

Area: UK

Grant range: Projects over £1million and under £5million

Who can apply: HLF welcome applications from single organisations and partnerships. Priority is given to not-for-profit organisations, and partnerships led by not-for-profit organisations. If private owners are involved, HLF expect the public benefit to be greater than any private gain. 

How to apply: See website

When to apply:

Heritage Grants
Programme budget : Grants above £50,000

Heritage Grants is our main grants programme offering grants of more than £50,000 for projects that relate to the national, regional or local heritage of the UK (except the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).

Programme priorities

To receive a grant your project must:

    * help people to learn about their own and other people’s heritage

Your project must also do either or both of the following:

    * conserve the UK’s diverse heritage for present and future generations to experience and enjoy;
    * help more people, and a wider range of people, to take an active part in and make decisions about heritage.

Reduced partnership (match) funding requirement - with immediate effect

    * For a grant of less than £1million, you must contribute at least 5% (reduced from 10%) of the project cost.
    * For a grant of £1million or more, you must contribute at least 10% (reduced from 25%) of the project cost.
    * Your partnership funding can be in cash or kind, with some contribution coming from your own resources.
    * If you need to prepare a management and maintenance plan as part of your application to us (for projects involving more than £200,000 worth of capital works) you can now count five-years' worth of the additional maintenance costs identified towards your partnership funding contribution. However, this cannot be the only partnership funding you offer.
    * These changes apply to all new and existing applications. If we are currently processing your application and you have any questions please contact your grants officer.
    * Link to press release.

Application process

Timescale
We assess all applications in two rounds.  Heritage Grant is a rolling programme and there are no deadlines for applications under £5million.  It will take us three months from the date we receive your first and/or second-round application to assess it.  We will decide on your application at the next available meeting after the three-month assessment process has passed.

Your grant request is the combined total of your development grant (if applicable) and delivery grant.

Grants of over £50,000 and under £1million
Our Country and Regional Committees meet four times a year to make decisions on Heritage Grants of over £50,000 and under £1million – June, September, December and March.

Grants of over £1million and under £5million
Our Board meets six times a year to make decisions on Heritage Grants of over £1million and under £5million. So, if you want to receive a decision on your first-round application at a specific meeting, you should discuss submission dates with your local team. Application forms and all supporting materials will need to have been received by HLF no later than the following dates: 

    * 11 April 2011 for the Board meeting on 19 July 2011
    * 19 June 2011 for the Board meeting on 27 September 2011
    * 7 August 2011 for the Board meeting on 15 November 2011
    * 16 October 2011 for the Board meeting on 24 January 2012
    * 19 December 2011 for the Board meeting on 27 March 2012

Grants of £5million or more
Applications for grants of £5million or more are assessed, in a competitive batch, once a year by our Board.  The deadline for first-round applications is 30 November for each year with a decision by April the following year.  If you are successful at first-round, then the second-round applications may be submitted at any time within two years of the original decision and it will be considered by the Board at the next available decision meeting.  You should discuss submission dates with your local team. If you are submitting your application in 2011 the deadlines are as follows:

    * First-round applications: 30 November 2011, with a decision in April 2012.  Applicants will have until March 2014 to work up and submit their second-round application for decision.

We strongly recommend you contact us for advice before making an application.  You should complete the pre-application enquiry form and full application form online. To do this register and apply.

Website: Heritage Grants over £50,000 (UK)

Source: Grants online