Funding Announced for Local Community Heritage Initiatives

The National Archives has announced that it will launch the Community Hub Grants programme later in 2025. This is a new national programme that supports community-led research across the UK’s galleries, libraries, archives, museums and heritage sectors.

The programme will offer three schemes.

• Seed Corn Grants range from £500 to £5,000 for early-stage pilot projects.
• Skills Bursaries award up to £1,000 to individuals for training in community heritage practice.
• Project Grants provide up to £30,000 for substantial, collaborative projects between at least one gallery, library, archive or museum and a community group.

In total, £550,000 will be available across the three schemes.

The grants aim to spark new ideas, build skills and fund lasting resources that reflect diverse voices. They can support research, community workshops, digitisation, exhibitions and digital storytelling. The funding addresses a shortage of grassroots heritage initiatives by enabling local organisations to engage audiences with archives.

At present, the grants are closed to applications. The opening date for submissions will be announced on the Community Hub pages later in the year. Interested applicants should monitor The National Archives website for details and apply via the online form when the scheme reopens.

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