Application & Guidelines

Applications can be made to either the Music Scheme or the Heritage & Crafts Scheme.

The application form will request information about your organisation, the project and your finances, so please ensure that you have gathered this information in sufficient time to submit the application before the deadline.

You will be able to return to the application form to edit details up to the point at which it is closed. Once submitted, the application cannot be altered.

If you wish to discuss your application, please contact our Administrator on 01285 841900 or via email. Any guidance given offers no guarantee of success.

For consideration at the July Trustees’ meeting

Applications open on 1st November and close on 31st January. Please note any projects that start prior to the 1st July will not be considered (except in very rare and exceptional circumstances at the Trustees’ discretion).

For consideration at the December Trustees’ meeting

Applications open on 1st May and close on 31st July. Please note any projects that start prior to the 1st January in the year following the trustee meeting will not be considered (except in very rare and exceptional circumstances at the Trustees’ discretion).

Please note that we do not accept late applications. The Trust receives more applications than it can support, so late submissions are not considered to ensure fairness to all applicants.

The application form requests budget information for your project.

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

Music grants are in the region of £2,500–£5,000.

Applicants may include a proportionate but limited share of organisational overheads, but must clearly distinguish direct project costs from organisational overheads in their budget.

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. The Music grants are between £2,500 – £5,000. Please note your application will be rejected if you apply for more than the maximum amount. 

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 many more applications than we are able to support. To be fair to those who have submitted their applications in good time, we will not consider late applications.

Can we include core costs for Heritage & Crafts?

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.

I would like to make an application on behalf of a Quartet or Ensemble; is that acceptable?

Yes we do accept applications from Quartets and Ensembles for Music Scheme applications.

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?

Yes. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply.

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 any questions, please call our Administrator on 01285 841900.

All grant recipients are required to meet the following monitoring requirements:

Receipt Acknowledgement

Beneficiaries must send a letter of acknowledgement within two weeks of receiving the grant for auditing purposes.

Final Reporting

All successful applicants receive a link to an online reporting form that must be completed and submitted upon project completion.

Multi-Year Funding

For recipients with funding across multiple years, payment of each annual instalment is conditional on receipt of a satisfactory report of the previous year.

Please note: Failure to submit receipts or reports may impact future applications to the Trust.