Community Hub Project Grants
Project Grants of up to £30,000 fund substantial, collaborative projects between at least one GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) or Heritage organisation and one community group. These grants support 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. Whether building upon a Seed Corn project or starting fresh, Project Grants are intended to create meaningful change and long-term value for both communities and institutions.
- Opening date: (Midnight)
- Closing date: (Midnight)
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Summary
The Spaces, Places and Belonging Community Hub is a programme for organisations throughout the United Kingdom led by The National Archives, in partnership with Leeds Museums & Galleries, the National Library of Wales, and the Community Archives & Heritage Group.The programme aims to respond to the long-standing challenge of how “to make innovation and learning from community-facing projects more sustainable, transferable, and accessible” in the UK’s GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) and heritage sectors. Through a supportive funding structure, it aims to help communities and organisations share their work more widely and contribute to a growing body of knowledge that others can learn from and build upon.Project Grants of up to £30,000 are available to support substantial, collaborative initiatives between at least one GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) or heritage organisation and one community group. These grants are designed to fund in-depth research, skills development, and the creation of lasting resources that reflect diverse voices and experiences. Whether building on a previous Seed Corn project or starting something entirely new, Project Grants aim to foster meaningful change and long-term value for both communities and institutions.At the heart of these grants is a commitment to co-design and community leadership. Projects should be inclusive, sustainable, and impactful, with a strong emphasis on shared ownership and mutual benefit for all participants. The funding is intended to support practical, creative, and developmental work that strengthens relationships between GLAM organisations and the communities they serve.There will be two application rounds for Project Grants, and the panel will review applications within two months of the application deadline. Although applications for the first round of Project Grants will officially open in April 2026, now is the ideal moment to begin exploring potential collaborations, reaching out to discuss your ideas with us, and mapping out possible opportunities. Use this period to build connections, refine your concepts, and lay the groundwork for a strong proposal when the time comes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to speak to the Community Hub team about their proposals at an early stage to ensure they align with the purpose of the funding.Eligible costs could include:
Staff time or freelance fees for project delivery
Community engagement and co-design activities
Training and skills development for participants
Travel and subsistence for project participants
Materials, equipment, or venue hire
Digital tools, platforms, or content creation
Evaluation and dissemination of project outcomes
Translation or accessibility services
General organisational overheads or core running costs
By applying to a Project grant, you will also gain access to a dedicated skills development and training programme, offering a wide range of learning opportunities tailored to the unique challenges faced by organisations and practitioners in the sector. This will be made available to all applicants, whether successful or not. You will be able to expect interactive workshops, expert-led webinars, and collaborative activities designed to strengthen professional skills, encourage peer networking, and share best practice. The programme will be shaped by feedback from local communities and sector partners, ensuring its relevance and practical value to those taking part. The programme is still in development and more details will be published on our website in the new year.
**Are you eligible for funding?**To determine your eligibility for funding, consider whether you are a GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) or Heritage organisation, or part of a community group as defined above?Then consider whether your proposed activity would fall into the scope of community heritage: does your project work to record or share histories, cultures or stories? Does it explore our senses of space, place or belonging? Are you trying to shift the focus from the usual national histories to a more localised narrative?If your work aligns with these definitions, you are likely eligible to apply. For comprehensive criteria and application details, consult the relevant How to Apply pages.
Eligibility
Project Grants are open to partnerships between GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) or Heritage organisations and community groups. Each application must involve at least one GLAM or Heritage organisation and one community group working collaboratively. The partnership can be an existing one, or a new one created for the purposes of this application.
While it is not necessary to have previously received a Seed Corn Grant, applicants who have done so are welcome to build on that earlier work as part of their project development. The emphasis is on co-designed, community-led initiatives that prioritise inclusion, sustainability, and long-term impact.
Any application for a Project grant needs to:
Be involved with, or linked in some way to, the Galleries, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) and/or Heritage sectors.
Be based in the UK (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales)
Have a UK bank account.
Not have received a Community Hub Project grant before. Previously unsuccessful applicants can apply again with the agreement of the Community Hub team.
Objectives
The programme aims to respond to the long-standing challenge of how “to make innovation and learning from community-facing projects more sustainable, transferable, and accessible” in the UK’s GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) and heritage sectors. Through a supportive funding structure, it aims to help communities and organisations share their work more widely and contribute to a growing body of knowledge that others can learn from and build upon.
Dates
How to apply
There will be two application rounds for Project Grants: one launching in April 2026 and another in launching September 2026. You can apply to this scheme through an online form, accessed through our website.