Aims/priorities: The programme aims to create a UK-wide network of financially resilient organisations that revive unused buildings and support regeneration in some of the country’s most deprived places and communities.
The programme will provide funding and capacity building support to between 10 and 13 Heritage Development Trusts operating in locations of need and potential across the UK, who will join the existing group of 7 Heritage Development Trusts in England supported as part of a pilot initiative between 2020-23.
Who can apply? Organisations from across the UK can apply, from those just getting started to mature organisations looking to adopt a new approach.
The Heritage Development Trust model, developed by the Architectural Heritage Fund, is not a prescribed legal structure – organisations can be social enterprises or charities of different forms.
Heritage Development Trusts will share a unifying commitment to the reimagining, repair, and reuse of historic buildings of value to their community. They are:
- Multi-building developers: acquiring and managing a portfolio of heritage assets, to create an economically sustainable model through their revenue-raising potential.
- Community-based partnerships: arising from the needs of their community, and working in close partnership with local people, local government and local business.
- Entrepreneurial and Not for Profit: reinvesting their surpluses in development, and creating additional economic, social, environmental and cultural value for their communities.
Applicants will need to demonstrate:
- Ambitions to grow: they have the potential to develop a portfolio of heritage buildings that will deliver local benefits and generate long-term income
- Heritage buildings in need in their area: potential projects in places of economic and heritage need and opportunity
- Local partners: a supportive local authority and their willingness to build working relationships.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have in place plans to take on a portfolio of projects to deliver heritage-led regeneration.
- Be able to justify the need for the grant and provide an outline financial proposal, which sets out how the funding will be spent and how they propose to develop new income streams over the next five years.
- Provide evidence of local authority support, project partners and community consultation and buy-in.
Applications will also be accepted from two or more organisations working in partnership.
As a condition of funding, successful applicants will be expected to share knowledge and lessons and to participate in wider learning opportunities for the heritage sector as a whole.
Grant amount: There is a total budget of £5 million. It is anticipated that between 10 and 13 organisations will be supported.
The type of support will vary depending on the stage of development of each Trust and its individual needs but, in summary:
- Revenue funding of between £55,000 and £70,000 per year, for three years, from January 2024.
- Access to support from consultant Project Advisers specialising in areas such as governance, social impact measurement, community engagement, fundraising and social investment, business planning, environmental sustainability and green energy solutions.
- Eligible to apply for Project Viability Grants (up to £15,000 per project) and Project Development Grants (up to £75,000) to develop projects involving the rescue and reuse of historic buildings.
- Membership of a UK-wide peer-to-peer learning network of Heritage Development Trusts.
- Mentoring from another Heritage Development Trust.
Application process: There is only one round of applications for this funding.
The guide for applicants and the online Expression of Interest form can be found on the AHF website.
The application process and timeline:
- 24 May: Opens for Expressions of Interest.
- 26 June (9am): Deadline for Expressions of Interest
- 14 July: Full applications invited from selected organisations with potential to operate as Heritage Development Trusts. Please note only a limited number of organisations will be invited to submit a full application.
- 15 September (9am): Deadline for applications.
- 15 December 2023: Announcement of successful applicants.
The Architectural Heritage Fund is running online sessions to help people understand the programme and learn more about how to apply.
Interested organisations can sign up on Eventbrite for the following information sessions:
- Friday 26 May, 11.00-12.00
- Friday 2 June, 10.00-11.00
- Thurs 8 June, 13.00-14.00
- Wed 14 June, 10.00-11.00
Deadline: Monday 26 June 2023, 9am.
Contact information: Email: ahf@ahfund.org.uk
Website: Heritage Development Trusts | The Architectural Heritage Fund