Local heritage grant scheme

Our ambition is to improve quality of life in Torbay (Brixham, Paignton and Torquay) through the development of culture and heritage. Thanks to investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we can make a step forward with this programme of work which will support increased public participation in local heritage.

We want to support local people and improve access and engagement with Torbay’s heritage. The Heritage Fund’s investment will resource a Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme to run across mid-2023 to late 2025. The Heritage Fund’s support will also enable advice and support for local grant recipients, and evaluation.

Our new Torbay local heritage grant scheme complements our ambition to celebrate and increase engagement for residents and visitors with our UNESCO Global Geopark designation. Local organisations, groups and societies will be able to apply to the Scheme.

The new grant scheme will provide the momentum for more engagement with the different designations around the bay (i.e., in addition to the overarching theme of our UNESCO designation, such as scheduled monuments, listed buildings); and allow smaller scale partners to access support that they otherwise could not consider (for example developing activity or resources that support intangible heritage or untold stories).

Aims and outcomes

Applicants to the Scheme will be asked to respond to the aim and explain how they will meet the two outcomes (see below) with their proposal for funding. They can use any of the Torbay Heritage Strategy themes as a structure if this helps.

The aim of grant scheme is:

Proposals are asked to meet the following two outcomes which will be scored equally:

We welcome proposals which demonstrate an understanding of environmental and social responsibility. This means a proposal is environmentally responsible in itself (subject or theme), or simply reflects a sustainable and socially responsible approach to delivering the outcomes.

By social responsibility we mean we want to support ideas which are inclusive and welcoming for everyone in the local area. We want to democratise heritage – in the spirit of the definition given above – What do we mean by ‘heritage’? We want to encourage a broad range of ideas that will excite and involve people in local heritage.

We also hope this scheme will strengthen local collaboration and capabilities, building confidence and skills in the community. Whilst this is not scored, we will consider this in balancing decisions.

Find out more about what we are looking for in the Outcomes.

Grant amounts

Grants of up to a maximum of £5,000 for activity (e.g., events, temporary displays, lecture series etc) or up to £7,500 for capital (e.g., purchasing of permanent equipment, physical improvements to places) will be available. The minimum application, in either case, is £500.

Applications

To make an application please complete the application form. Please read the grant timeline information to see the opening and closing times above before making an application. Email your completed application form to heritage.grants@torbay.gov.uk.

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