GrantRadar

The Radcliffe Trust

Radcliffe Trust Heritage & Crafts Scheme

Project grants, generally £2,500 to £7,500, for UK charities and other not-for-profit organisations (including CICs and CIOs) that develop the skills, knowledge and experience underpinning the UK's heritage and crafts sectors. It supports emerging craftspeople, craft and conservation projects and training, creative work by designer-makers and sector capacity building, with occasional grants in theatre, performance and literature. The next application window opens on 1 November 2026 and closes on 31 January 2027; the Trust also runs a separate Music Scheme on the same timetable.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£2,500 – £7,500
Deadline
105 days left
31 January
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • UK-based charities, not-for-profit organisations and exempt organisations applying for a specific project; the Trust accepts CICs, CIOs and other not-for-profit organisations
  • Individuals cannot apply (bursaries are paid to the training organisation)
  • Mainstream schools and Church of England churches cannot apply directly
  • Applicants confirm they have appropriate safeguarding policies
  • It must be at least a year since your last successful application, and after three consecutive years of funding a one-year break is required

What it funds

Specific projects that develop and practise the skills, knowledge and experience underpinning the UK's heritage and crafts sector:

  • Support for emerging craftspeople of high quality
  • Craft and conservation projects and training
  • Projects with creative outcomes by designer-makers
  • Projects with potential to build capacity within the sector
  • Some special needs projects focusing on the therapeutic benefits of skills development

Trustees occasionally fund other cultural creativity related to heritage and crafts, including theatre, performance and literature, especially where projects develop high-level skills among early career practitioners and disadvantaged groups.

Budgets may include a proportionate but limited share of overheads (full cost recovery), shown separately from direct costs.

Bursaries and support fees are normally paid to the training organisation.

Conservation of historic furnishings and artworks in other denominations' churches can be applied for directly.

What it will not fund

  • Capital costs
  • Core costs (fixed core costs; a limited share of overheads is allowed)
  • Projects that are solely or primarily about nature, landscapes, gardens, land management or environmental conservation
  • Projects that are primarily social or therapeutic in nature
  • Projects that are solely or primarily for equipment or materials
  • Conceptual art
  • Conference fees or associated costs
  • Retrospective grants (projects starting before the trustees' meeting)
  • General appeals or endowment funds
  • Mainstream schools
  • Individuals
  • Multi-year grants (except in exceptional circumstances)
  • Direct applications from Church of England churches (these go through the Church Buildings Council)
  • Late applications
  • Organisations whose last successful application was less than a year ago, or that have had three consecutive years of funding without a one-year break
  • More than one project per application, or more than one application per organisation per scheme per round

How to apply

  1. Check the eligibility and exclusions on the Heritage & Crafts Scheme page and read the FAQs
  2. Optionally download the Word version of the application questions to prepare (it cannot be submitted)
  3. Complete the online application form when the window is open (1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027): organisation details and finances, project description (at least 400 words), project budget and funding, and amount requested
  4. Submit before the deadline; the form can be edited until the window closes but not after submission
  5. Applications meeting the criteria go to the Heritage & Crafts Committee, which recommends to the Trustees; decisions follow the trustees' meeting

The next window is for the trustees' meeting in summer 2027; projects starting before 1 July will not be considered except in exceptional circumstances. A second window runs 1 May to 31 July for the December meeting.

The Trust will contact you if it needs more material (brochures, CVs); up to two photographs may be attached. No feedback is given on unsuccessful applications. Questions: 01285 841900 or email.

Have ready

  • Online application form, including organisation income and expenditure from the most recent audited accounts
  • Project budget (costs by category) and project funding (secured and pending)
  • Latest accounts, only if not filed on the Charity Commission for England and Wales website

Up to two photographs may be attached if they clarify the application. Safeguarding policies must be available on request.

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