The National Archives’ Archive Sector Development department is continuing to support archives seeking funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through its training programme.  We will be running free one-day workshops focused on the HLF’s two main grants programmes ‘Your Heritage’ and ‘Heritage Grants’ at locations around the UK in 2011/12. These workshops are designed to complement pre-application support that applicants can receive directly from HLF.

'Your Heritage Grants' workshop

This one day workshop is designed for those aiming to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund's 'Your Heritage' grant scheme. This scheme is for grant bids between £3,00 and £50,000.

Course objectives are:

• to give participants a background to the Heritage Lottery Fund and a detailed understanding of the assessment criteria for 'Your Heritage' grants
• to provide participants with advice on developing fundable projects and completing the application form
• to give participants confidence to complete the application form independently

The day is facilitated by Louise Ray Funding and Development Advice Manager, Archives Sector Development, The National Archives. It includes a mixture of presentations and group exercises, and participants are encouraged to share their own project ideas and raise questions in an informal atmosphere. In the morning, delegates have an overview of the Heritage Lottery Fund and look at project aims and activities, and in the afternoon the focus is on project planning, management and budgets.

Dates/Venues open for booking:

• Wednesday 19 October 2011, City of Westminster Archive Centre, London (closing date for registration 13 October 2011)
• Thursday 9 February 2012, Hampshire Record Office, Winchester (closing date for registration 3 February 2012)
• Thursday 8 March 2012, Warwickshire Record Office, Warwick (closing date for registration 2 March 2012)

'Applying for Heritage Grants' workshop

The workshop is designed for those aiming to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund's 'Heritage Grants' programme. This scheme is for grants over £50,000.

Course objectives are:

• to give participants a detailed understanding of the criteria and two stage application process for the 'Heritage Grants' programme
• to give participants confidence to complete the application form and activity plan
• to give participants the opportunity to discuss projects proposals and being to shape their applications

The day will be facilitated by Louise Ray, Funding and Development Advice Manager, Archive Sector Development, The National Archives and with input from guest speakers and a case study archive project (to be confirmed).

Dates/Venues open for booking:

• Wednesday 13 October 2011, Carlisle Record Office (closing date 7 October 2011)
• Thursday 15 March 2012, London Metropolitan Archives (closing date 9 March 2012)

The workshops are open to anyone working in archives or with archive materials in the UK, but participants will benefit most from the day if they have a specific project in mind.

For more information and details on how to book places please go to: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/lottery-advice.htm

If you want to find out whether the workshops might be suitable for you, or would like more general advice then please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone or email

Louise Ray
Funding and Development Advice Manager -  Archive Sector Development, The National Archives

Direct Line: 020 8392 5347
Email: [log in to unmask]

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

My usual working days are currently Tuesday to Friday.
This post is jointly supported by The National Archives and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

[From 1 April 2010 this post will be taking over the work of the National Council on Archives' Archive Lottery Advisory Service http://www.nca.org.uk/lottery and will continue to manage the Archive Pace Setter scheme www.nca.org.uk/archivepacesetter]