The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has opened new £8 million annual investment
programme, Resilient Heritage, to support UK based organisations to build their
capacity or achieve strategic change in order to improve the management of
heritage in the long term.
Not for profit organisations and partnerships led by not for profit
organisations are invited to apply for grants of between £3,000 and £250,000.
As Resilient Heritage is a flexible programme it has the ability to support a
wide range of activities. Examples of what can be funded include, but are not
limited to, the following:
- Activities to support a group taking on new
responsibility for heritage, such as working with a local authority on an
asset transfer process.
- Conducting a viability appraisal or feasibility study
looking at transforming the use of a historic building or other heritage
asset.
- Investigating and trialling new approaches to
fundraising, trading or other income generating activities.
- Conducting research into engagement with existing and
potential audiences and customers, and identifying improvements that can
be implemented.
- Paying for specialist support to undertake a review of
governance and an audit of trustee skills, and implement changes.
- Getting advice and support from a professional to
review the business and operating model, develop a new business plan for
the organisation and implement the key stages.
- Exploring alternative income streams and testing new
approaches, which might include improving how the organisation
demonstrates its social impact in order to attract a wider range of
investors.
- Identifying opportunities to reduce negative
environmental impacts and make efficiency savings.
- Providing short-term staff cover to release senior
personnel from some of their duties, to increase their capacity to work on
activities critical to organisational development.
- Identifying and paying for training for staff,
volunteers and trustees to support the organisational changes necessary.
- Providing support for networking and mentoring activity
to enable the organisation to increase its reach and impact.
- Ensuring the organisation is prepared to take on a
future capital project through undertaking specialist work such as
condition surveys and initial planning to demonstrate long-term
financial sustainability.
- Exploring options for winding down or merging with
another organisation, including getting support in passing on
responsibility for a heritage asset to ensure it is well managed in the
long term.
- Exploring options on behalf of a group of
organisations, for example, around the establishment of more formal
networks or partnerships, and developing new strategic plans and
approaches to looking after shared heritage.
Partnerships between heritage organisations and service providers, and
umbrella organisations, can also apply for funding for activities such as
training and capacity building for organisations with responsibility for
managing heritage.
Applications above £100,000 will need to make a contribution of 5% towards
the total project cost, made up of cash, volunteer time, non-cash
contributions, or a combination of all of the above.
There are no
deadlines and applications can be submitted online at any time.
