Heritage & Crafts

The Radcliffe Trust supports the development and practice of the skills, knowledge and experience that underpin the UK’s heritage and crafts sector. This includes support for emerging craftspeople of high quality, craft and conservation projects and training, projects demonstrating creative outcomes by designer-makers, projects with potential for capacity building within the sector, and some special needs projects focusing on the therapeutic benefits of skills development.

The Trustees will consider making occasional grants in other areas of cultural creativity related to their concerns for heritage and crafts, including theatre, performance, and literature, especially where projects can be shown to contribute to the promotion and development of high-level skills among early career practitioners and disadvantaged groups.

The Radcliffe Trust continues to support the heritage and crafts sector in the UK.

Applications which meet the criteria for the scheme are considered by our Heritage & Crafts Committee. This, in turn, makes recommendations to the Trustees. The Trustees’ decision will be made known as soon as possible after their meeting.

To check eligibility and exclusions and to submit an application, please click here.

If you have any questions or require support please email [email protected].

For consideration by the Trustees in July

Our application window opens on the 1st November and closes on the 31st January for applications to both the Music and Heritage & Crafts schemes for consideration in July. Please note any projects that start prior to the 1st July will not be considered, save in exceptional circumstances.

For consideration by the Trustees in December

Our application window opens on the 1st May and closes on the 31st July for applications to both the Music and Heritage & Crafts schemes for consideration in December. Please note any projects that start prior to the 1st January (following the trustees meeting) will not be considered, save in exceptional circumstances.

The application form will ask you to provide some budget information. If you have any questions or queries, please do contact our administrator on [email protected].

Can I apply as an individual?

We do not accept applications from individuals, only from organisations. Please see the specific scheme criteria for the ways in which the Trust supports individuals.

I work with a not-for-profit organisation, can I apply?

The Radcliffe Trust accepts applications from CICs, CIOs and other not-for-profit organisations.

How much can I ask for?

Heritage & Crafts grants are generally in the region of £2,500–£7,500.

Is it possible to get a faster decision?

We take care to present projects to the Trustees with the maximum consideration and this can take up to six months. No decisions are final until the minutes of the meeting have been approved.

Do you accept late applications?

The Radcliffe Trust receives more applications than we are able to support. Therefore, to be fair to those that have submitted their applications in good time, we will not consider late applications.

Can we include core costs?

The Radcliffe Trust supports Heritage & Crafts projects, including training opportunities, but not fixed core costs. However, it accepts the principle of full cost recovery relating to a project and will consider the inclusion of a proportionate but limited share of your organisation’s overheads. We therefore request that, in breaking down the costs of your project for budgeting purposes, you distinguish clearly between the direct costs of a project and its associated overheads.

I have more than one project. Can I put multiple projects into my application?

We will only consider one project for each application, so you must choose which project you think will most closely match the interests of the Trustees.

Can I apply to both schemes in a single grant round?

You cannot submit more than one application per organisation for each grant round, per scheme. You can submit an application to each of the schemes in the same round, however, we do ask you to make it clear on the applications that you have submitted to both schemes.

If my organisation has received three years of consecutive funding, can we apply for further support?

Yes, but only after a one-year break after each three consecutive years.

Can I send additional material in support of my application?

If we feel that additional information would help our assessment of your application, for example brochures, programmes or CVs, we will contact you to request it.

Can I send photographs of my project?

If you feel photographs would clarify your application please attach no more than two using the accounts upload option.

If my application is unsuccessful, can I reapply in the next round?

If your application is unsuccessful you are welcome to submit another application in the next grant round. If your application is successful you must not reapply for 12 months, or until the project previously supported has been completed, unless asked to reapply by the Trustees.

Do you provide feedback on applications?

We do not provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Do you visit all successful applicants?

The Trustees do not visit all grantees, but may visit if they feel it is appropriate.

If you have a question regarding the Heritage & Crafts scheme, please call our Administrator on 01285 841900.

• Beneficiaries will be asked to send a letter of acknowledgement on receipt of the grant for auditing purposes
• Payment of each annual instalment of a grant is conditional on receipt of a satisfactory report of the previous year
• A final report is required on all grants given
• All reports should highlight the impact the grant has had and any significant learning that has come out of the project and that will be built on for the future

Grants for the conservation of historic furnishings and artworks in Church of England Churches in England can only be made through the Church Buildings Council (formerly Council for the Care of Churches) which receives a block grant from the Trust.

For more information please visit the Church of England website.

Applications from any other denominations should be made directly to The Radcliffe Trust. If applicants are in doubt about the eligibility of their request, they should contact the administrator.

The Radcliffe Trust seeks to work collaboratively with other trusts and foundations. In this way information and expertise can be shared, processes improved and better support provided. In this spirit, the Trust was instrumental in setting up the Heritage & Crafts Funders Network (HCFN), an informal group of trusts and foundations providing support to the Heritage & Crafts sector. The Trust continues to participate in the network.

The terms and conditions of awards made by The Radcliffe Trust are as follows:

1. Successful applicants are required to provide a signed receipt on headed paper, within 14 days of receiving the payment, acknowledging that funds have been received and confirming compliance with these Terms and Conditions.
2. The grant is made only for the purposes agreed by the Trust and awards are based upon the information supplied in the application.
3. Beneficiaries must request the Trust’s permission before implementing any variations. The Trust reserves the right to claim back any grant or part of a grant which has not been used for the purposes agreed.
4. Beneficiaries must inform the Trust of any underspend in a grant and any decision to claim back the grant or any part of a grant shall be at the sole discretion of the Trust.
5. Organisations must keep proper and up-to-date records and accounts that show how the grant is being used. The financial records should be available to representatives of the Trust for inspection at reasonable notice.
6. Grants should be spent within one year of being awarded, unless otherwise agreed.
7. A report is required one year after the award of the grant or at the end of the project if completed earlier. For multi-year funded projects, a report must be submitted at least one month prior to the next funding instalment. Subsequent payments are contingent upon the receipt of a satisfactory report.
8. Grant recipients must acknowledge the support of the Trust in any reports, presentations or promotional material related to their funded project.
9. Organisations and individuals will be expected to repay grants if they are found to have acted fraudulently or negligently. Any inaccurate disclosure or failure to disclose relevant information requested, will be grounds for seeking immediate repayment of any grant made.
10. The grant is for the use of a particular organisation and must not be given, or transferred, to any third party.
11. Any grant awarded cannot be used to pay for expenditure incurred or committed prior to the date of the grant notification letter.
12. The payment of any instalment of a grant is conditional upon funds being available to make that payment.