Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available to UK organisations to support early-stage, exploratory projects that spark new ideas and innovative approaches to community engagement with heritage.
Grants are designed for:
- Community groups
- Galleries
- Libraries
- Archives
- Museums
- Other heritage organisations
Applicants should be looking to test concepts, build partnerships, or pilot activities. Seed Corn Grants are designed to be flexible and easy to access, making it simple for anyone to join the National Archives’ Community Hub programme. The scheme is designed to encourage new ideas and inclusivity.
Grants of between £500 and £5,000 can be applied for. Smaller grassroots community groups operating at a local level are likely to be prioritised for grant support.
Eligible costs could include (please note that this is not an exclusive list):
- Community consultation or co-design activities.
- Digital tools or platforms to support engagement.
- Evaluation and documentation of pilot activities.
- General organisational overheads or core running costs.
- Materials and supplies for workshops, exhibitions, or events.
- Staff time or freelance fees for project delivery.
- Travel and subsistence for project participants, and/or
- Venue hires or equipment rental.
Two application rounds are scheduled for the fund:
Round 2 will open on Monday 2 February 2026 with a deadline of Friday 17 April 2026. Successful applicants are expected to be notified by the end of July 2026.
Further information, guidance and details on how to apply is available on the National Archives website.