HLF - Resilient Heritage Programme Opens to Applications throughout UK

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.