Heritage grants: funding for buildings, places and history
As of 22 October 2026, GrantMatch lists 17 live grants for heritage projects from 11 funders. 3 close in the next 30 days, the first on 29 October 2026, 8 are open all year with no fixed deadline, and 3 were added this week. Each entry links to the official source.
Listings last checked 19 October 2026. Guide checked 21 October 2026.
Heritage funding covers far more than old buildings. It pays to repair historic places and places of worship, to catalogue and open up archives, to record the stories and traditions of a community, and to care for landscapes and nature. The National Lottery Heritage Fund describes it well: heritage can be anything from the past that you value and want to pass on.
This page lists the live heritage grants GrantMatch tracks for charities, community groups, faith groups and other not-for-profit organisations, from small local funds to the largest national programmes. Academic research funding is left out.
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Create free accountClosing in the next 30 days (3)
Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2027
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Windrush Day Grant Scheme gives £5,000 to £25,000 to projects in England that celebrate, commemorate and teach people about the Windrush Generation and their contribution. Your events and activities must happen between 8 June and 31 July 2027, with a lead event around Windrush Day on 22 June. Charities, CICs, social enterprises and community benefit societies can apply. Councils can apply only as part of a consortium with Windrush communities. The deadline is 23:59 on 29 October 2026. Decisions come in March 2027. The scheme is run by Church Urban Fund (Near Neighbours) for the government. Official source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-day-grant-scheme-2027. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Wakefield Culture Grants - Small
Wakefield Council
Wakefield Council's Culture Grants Small programme gives up to £1,500 for small creative, cultural and heritage projects and activities. It is open to constituted community groups, charities, community interest companies (CICs) and other voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. Individuals and businesses cannot apply. The funder runs the programme in rounds. The next deadline is Monday 9 November 2026, which is Round 5. Earlier rounds have already closed. The page does not state a closing time, so aim to submit well before the day. All eligible applications go to a decision panel. Decisions are announced within 8 weeks of each deadline. After that there is a 2-week period for contracting and finance arrangements. This means it could be up to 10 weeks between applying and starting your project, so plan your timings with that in mind. You must apply using the application form for this grant strand, either the Word version or the e-form. The council does not accept extra documents or files alongside your form. If you need to apply by video or audio file because of access needs, you can email the team to discuss how to send it. If you are funded, you will need to complete an evaluation form at the end of your project. The council also asks you to fill in an anonymous equalities monitoring form. It is optional, but it helps the council understand and support its applicants. Official source: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/culture-and-heritage/culture-grants/culture-grants-small. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
National Archives - Project Grants
The National Archives
The Project Grants scheme from The National Archives pays for substantial, collaborative projects between heritage organisations and community groups. It is part of the Spaces, Places and Belonging Community Hub, a new national programme launched in early 2026. The National Archives leads it with Leeds Museums & Galleries, the National Library of Wales, and the Community Archives & Heritage Group. The money supports in-depth research, skills development, and the creation of lasting resources that reflect diverse voices and experiences. Projects should be co-designed and community-led, with a focus on inclusion, sustainability and impact. You can build on an earlier Seed Corn project or start fresh. Each application must involve at least one GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) or heritage organisation and at least one community group. Your partnership must have a link to the GLAM or heritage sectors, be based in the UK and have a UK bank account. Grants of up to £30,000 are available. The deadline is 16 November 2026. One practical point: partnerships that have already received a Community Hub Project Grant cannot apply again. The funder strongly encourages you to talk to the Community Hub team about your idea early, so you can be sure it fits the purpose of the funding. Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/national-archives-project-grants-0. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Added this week (3)
Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2027
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Windrush Day Grant Scheme gives £5,000 to £25,000 to projects in England that celebrate, commemorate and teach people about the Windrush Generation and their contribution. Your events and activities must happen between 8 June and 31 July 2027, with a lead event around Windrush Day on 22 June. Charities, CICs, social enterprises and community benefit societies can apply. Councils can apply only as part of a consortium with Windrush communities. The deadline is 23:59 on 29 October 2026. Decisions come in March 2027. The scheme is run by Church Urban Fund (Near Neighbours) for the government. Official source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-day-grant-scheme-2027. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Historic England Neighbourhood Heritage: Grants for Communities
Historic England
About 21 grants of up to £15,000 for community-led projects that use local heritage to help people shape the future of their neighbourhood. Projects run between March 2027 and August 2028. Constituted community groups, charities, CICs and councils in England can apply. Projects must be co-created with under-represented communities in the most deprived 30% of neighbourhoods (IMD deciles 1 to 3). Read the guidance and email the application form to Historic England by 23:59 on 27 November 2026. Official source: https://historicengland.org.uk/campaigns/help-write-history/neighbourhood-heritage-grants/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Drapers' Charitable Fund
The Drapers' Company
Grants mainly for Greater London charities working on education and young people, homelessness, prisoners and ex-offenders, veterans and welfare, plus textile conservation, textile skills and heritage linked to the armed forces, London history or the textile trade. Amount: Up to £20,000 (larger grants occasionally). Rolling: apply any time; apply at least four weeks before a committee meeting (next 1 December 2026, then 23 February 2027). Who can apply: Registered charities, mostly in Greater London, with written safeguarding policies. Textile and heritage projects can be outside London. How to apply: Read the DCF Grant Eligibility and Application Guidelines, then email a proposal, the application summary sheet and your latest accounts and trustees report to charities@thedrapers.co.uk. Official source: https://thedrapers.co.uk/drapers-charitable-fund/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Guide
Checked 21 October 2026 against the official sources linked.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The largest heritage funder in the UK runs two open programmes for all types of heritage: National Lottery Heritage Grants from £10,000 to £250,000, and from £250,000 to £10 million. Bigger awards take longer to decide and need more preparation, so plan well ahead.
Buildings and places of worship
Historic England funds repairs and projects for historic places in England, including places of worship. The Architectural Heritage Fund offers grants, loans and advice to help communities and charities give historic buildings a new use, often at the early stage before a big capital bid.
Source: The Architectural Heritage Fund
Archives and collections
The National Archives has grants and advice for archive projects, and points to other funders that support the archives sector. Local heritage funds and community foundations also pay for oral history, exhibitions, digitising photographs and small conservation jobs.
Source: The National Archives: grants and funding for archives
What heritage funders look for
Most heritage funders want more than a repaired building or a tidy archive. They ask who will be able to enjoy and learn about the heritage, how the project involves a wider range of people, and how the heritage will be looked after once the grant ends. A clear plan for maintenance and use is often what separates a strong bid from a weak one.
Who funds this
| Funder | Open grants here |
|---|---|
| Historic England | 5 |
| National Lottery Heritage Fund | 2 |
| The National Archives | 2 |
| Architectural Heritage Fund | 1 |
| British Film Institute | 1 |
| Cumbria Community Foundation | 1 |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 1 |
| Radcliffe Trust | 1 |
11 different funders in total. Where a maximum award is stated, the middle value is £75,000.
By grant size
| Largest award | Open grants |
|---|---|
| Up to £2,000 | 3 |
| £2,001 to £10,000 | 1 |
| £10,001 to £100,000 | 5 |
| Over £100,000 | 8 |
| Amount varies or not stated | 0 |
All open grants (17)
No deadline listed
Check the funder's current application window before you apply.
BFI National Lottery Screen Heritage Fund: Project Funding
British Film Institute
The BFI National Lottery Screen Heritage Fund: Project Funding backs time-limited projects that open up screen heritage collections to more people. It is open all year, so you can apply at any time. It suits organisations that hold and care for screen archives or similar collections on a not-for-profit basis. Your project must meet at least two of the fund's aims. These include reaching more diverse audiences, working with local communities, building skills and improving staff retention, reducing the carbon footprint of collections care, sharing knowledge with other organisations, and collecting new moving image works so that today is not missing from the record. You can generally apply for between £10,000 and £140,000. If you are asking for an amount near the top of that range, you are expected to include a skills-related part in your project. Awards above £140,000 are rare. The page says higher amounts are only accepted for projects with exceptional cultural ambition, national profile and scale. Funding can cover project development and delivery, project staff costs, audience engagement, community co-curation, collections care linked to the fund's aims, limited digitisation and evaluation. It cannot pay for filmmaking projects, building work, costs incurred before an offer, or equipment above 8% of the amount you request. You can send an optional expression of interest first and get feedback on your eligibility. One firm caveat: applications submitted less than 16 weeks before your project starts are ineligible and will be declined. Plan your start date with plenty of lead time. Official source: https://www.bfi.org.uk/get-funding-support/bfi-national-lottery-screen-heritage-fund/applying-bfi-national-lottery-screen-heritage-project-funding. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Places grants
Historic England
Places grants from Historic England pay for projects that repair, conserve and care for historic places. That includes buildings, structures, monuments, landscapes and areas. Historic England says its grants play an important role in helping people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment. If you are planning work to look after a historic place, this scheme is worth a close look. The scheme is open all year. It opened on 1 April 2026 and has no end date. The advert shows a closing date of 31 March 2027, but the funder says you do not need to apply before then. You can apply at any time during the year, so you can plan your project at your own pace. The page does not give award sizes, so there is no minimum or maximum amount to quote here. Historic England publishes its eligibility information and funding priorities on its own website. Reading these before you start will help you judge whether your project fits. Applications begin on the Find a grant service, where you select the option to start a new application. Historic England also explains how to apply on its grants pages. One practical point: because the advert still shows a closing date, it is easy to think time is short. It is not. Take the time to read the priorities and prepare a clear application. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/places-grants-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Geoffrey Blake Architectural Heritage Fund
Cumbria Community Foundation
The Geoffrey Blake Architectural Heritage Fund supports community-based projects of architectural merit in Cumbria. It is run by Cumbria Community Foundation. The aim is to enhance people's experience and understanding of the built environment. Your project must have full access by the public, and it must bring a clear benefit to the community. The fund was created by a private individual in memory of her father, who had a long-standing interest in historical architecture. It suits charitable and not-for-profit organisations. The fund gives examples of work it would like to support. These include renovating community features and landmarks, such as watering holes, crosses and memorials. They also include renovating features of public buildings that have particular architectural merit, creating new work such as sculptures and other built features, and reconstructing historical bridleways of significant importance. Grants will normally be up to £2,000 over one year. Larger grants may be awarded. One practical point to keep in mind. The fund will not support individuals or major building renovations, in addition to the foundation's normal exclusions. If your project is a large restoration, it is unlikely to fit. All applications are made through the foundation's online application portal, and a step-by-step portal help guide is available. If you have questions about the fund, you can contact Lisa Blackwell on 01900 825760 or at grants@cumbriafoundation.org. Official source: https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/geoffrey-blake-architectural-heritage-fund/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
National Lottery Heritage Grants: £10,000 to £250,000
National Lottery Heritage Fund
National Lottery Heritage Grants fund projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK. This strand offers grants from £10,000 to £250,000 for projects that run for no more than five years. The money can pay for a broad range of direct project costs. These include volunteer expenses, new staff posts and training, capital works, repair, maintenance and conservation, professional fees, event costs and activities to strengthen your organisation. You can also include the acquisition of heritage and related purchase costs. Voluntary sector organisations may be able to include a share of their overheads through full cost recovery. The programme suits not-for-profit organisations, private owners of a heritage asset and partnerships. Your project must take into account all four investment principles: saving heritage, protecting the environment, inclusion, access and participation, and organisational sustainability. You decide how much emphasis to give each one. There is no deadline, so you can apply whenever you are ready. You can send an optional Project Enquiry first to get feedback on your idea. Once your application and supporting documents are complete, the funder aims to give you a decision in eight weeks. Payments are usually made in three stages: 50% in advance, 30% in advance and 20% in arrears. One important caveat: your project must not start before the funder makes a decision. Costs already incurred cannot be covered. The funder receives more applications than it can fund, so plan carefully before you apply. Official source: https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/national-lottery-heritage-grants-10k-250k-0. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
See all 2 rounds of National Lottery Heritage GrantsRothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe - European Jewish Heritage Programme
Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe
This programme helps make Jewish heritage and culture easier for more people to see and use. It supports material held in archives, libraries, museums and professional institutions. It also funds digitisation so collections can reach diverse audiences. There are five strands. Collections Management funding typically ranges from £30,000 to £60,000 per year for up to three years. Exhibition Support offers up to £75,000 per year for up to three years for core and temporary exhibitions. Digital Heritage gives up to £40,000 for an initial 12-month pilot, with the chance to apply for further funding. Scoping Grants are up to £5,000. Expert or Consultant Visits grants are up to £2,000. It suits organisations and institutions active in Europe, in both EU and non-EU countries, whose activities count as charitable under UK charity law. That includes not-for-profit or publicly funded bodies such as libraries, archives, museums, research institutes and universities. Timing matters. The three larger strands use a two-stage process. The expression of interest deadline was 9 July 2026 and the full application deadline for invited groups was 24 September 2026, so both have now passed. Scoping Grants and Expert or Consultant Visits can be applied for at any time, so these are the routes open to you now. Detailed guidance notes and online application forms are on the Foundation's website. You can also email the Foundation at info@rothschildfoundation.eu. Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/rothschild-foundation-hanadiv-europe-european-jewish-heritage-programme. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
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Create free accountCommunity Hub Bursaries
The National Archives
The Community Hub Bursaries give you up to £1,000 to grow your skills in community heritage work. The scheme is led by The National Archives as part of the Spaces, Places and Belonging Community Hub, with Leeds Museums & Galleries, the National Library of Wales and the Community Archives & Heritage Group. You decide how to use the money. Eligible costs could include course or workshop fees (in-person or online), travel and accommodation linked to training, mentoring or coaching, conferences or sector events, learning materials such as books and toolkits, and shadowing or placements in galleries, libraries, archives and museums. The bursaries suit individuals at any stage of their career or background, including independent practitioners with no organisation behind them. The funder especially wants to reach people who may not have had access to this kind of development before. You need to be involved in some way in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) or heritage sector, live in the UK and be at least 18. Applications are taken on a rolling basis and assessed quarterly by a panel. The page lists a closing date of 3 July 2027. It also says bursaries are offered on a rolling basis from September 2025 to March 2027. You apply through an online form. One practical point to plan for: you can only receive one Community Hub Bursary. Previously unsuccessful applicants can apply again with the agreement of the Community Hub team. You also need a UK bank account in the exact name you are applying in. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/community-hub-bursaries-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Questions
How many heritage grants are open?
Today GrantMatch lists 17 live heritage grants from 11 funders. 4 offer up to £10,000 and 8 offer over £100,000.
Can I get a grant to repair my listed home?
Rarely. The grants on this page are for organisations such as charities, community groups and faith groups. Private owners of listed homes usually need to look at their local council, which may know of any local schemes.
How much does the National Lottery Heritage Fund give?
Its open programmes fund projects from £10,000 up to £10 million, split into two programmes: £10,000 to £250,000, and £250,000 to £10 million.
Do heritage grants cover research?
Community history and archive projects are covered. Academic research is not, so research council funding is left off this page.
How do you check these grants?
We collect grants from official funder pages, GOV.UK, councils and community foundations, and remove them when they close. Each grant page links to its source and shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply.
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Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for heritage projects opens. Free to start, no card needed.
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Sources and how we check
We collect grants from official funder pages and remove them when they close. Each grant page links to its source and shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply. Guide sources: