The application process for grants ranging between £10,001 and £99,999 will vary hugely in terms of length, detail and response time. The key information that is often asked for is a detailed budget, the purpose of the project and its potential benefits.

National Lottery Heritage Fund

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (was HLF) is one of the largest grant-making bodies in the UK.  The Fund introduced a new strategy in 2023 and funding regime in 2024 – see the Fund’s website for full details.

Before starting an application for any of these programmes you are able to submit a Project Enquiry Form which allows the Fund to review your project and tell you if it would be eligible for funding. This is not assessed and has no effect on any application you make.

Association for Industrial Archaeology Restoration Grants

The Association for Industrial Archaeology has a fund available which can provide up to £20,000 for the restoration of historically, technically, architecturally, and/or archaeologically important industrial buildings, structures, machinery, vehicles and vessels within the UK.

The heritage asset in question must be:

• Covered by a Conservation Policy and/or Statement.
• Sustainably managed, displayed and interpreted for the public, therefore the public must have full access to the asset.

The application will usually relate to a single, tangible structure or artefact and can be used either for new projects or ones which have begun but need further funding for completion; the Association’s contribution should be a significant part of the total project cost.

People’s Postcode Trust

[Note, there are different websites for different UK regions – enter your postcode to get the correct site for you area.  The above link is for grant applications from the north of England].

The People’s Postcode Trust supports projects nationwide by giving grants between £500 and £20,000. 

It will fund the purchase of capital items, creation of community gardens and allotments, purchase and/or installation of energy saving devices and equipment, workshops that provide tangible results, such as qualifications or skills, conservation of wildlife and habitats and diversionary projects for youths.

The Trust funds certain regions during specific funding rounds each year. You should check the website to clarify when your region will be eligible to apply for funding.

John Ellerman Foundation

The John Ellerman Foundation awards grants of between £10,000 and £100,000.

It likes to support smaller organisations whose work has reach and significance across the UK.

It funds projects under three categories. These are the arts, welfare and the environment. Within the environment category it funds projects relating to better managed habitats and protecting the seas. The Foundation states it is flexible within these categories.

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation was established in 1961 and is one of the largest charitable foundations in the UK, giving out millions in grants each year.

It will normally award grants between £5,000 and £500,000, but grants are occasionally given outside these limits.

It funds projects in the following categories:

• The arts
• Children and young people
• The environment
• Social change

The foundation operates a two stage application process. Stage one applications can be completed online via their website and, if successful, they will send out an invitation to complete the stage two application form.

People’s Health Trust

The People’s Health Trust invests in local communities to help create fairer places to grow, live, work and age.  It believes that where you live should not unfairly reduce the length of your life or the quality of your health.

It awards grants between £5,000 and £25,000.

The projects must:

• be small and local, for example, a few streets or a small village. It doesn’t give money to larger projects.
• be designed and led by local people
• create stronger connections between people
• be in one or more of their fundable neighbourhoods
• enable people to feel they are doing something positive in their area, making a difference and feeling good about it

The current locations that are Wakefield, Leeds, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Stoke-On-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Newport, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf although these locations may change in the future.

The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation

The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation makes grants for projects that involve the preservation of buildings of architectural or historical importance and the skills based training of young people.

For the preservation of buildings category, the Foundation will award grants of up to £12,500.
For the skills based training of young people see The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation entry on the small grants page.

The website lists a series of “desirable criteria” and the Foundation states they will fund applicants that fit best with this criteria.

Morrisons Foundation

Morrisons Foundation will award grants to registered charities whose projects will improve the lives of people living in the UK.

See the website for more details.

IGas Energy Community Fund

IGas Energy Community Fund is run by IGas Energy and gives grants up to £20,000 for a wide range of different projects, but in only a limited number of areas, and at specific times.  See the Fund’s website for details.

South Yorkshire Community Foundation – Wind Farm Funds

A number of funds are available in the South Yorkshire area, for projects that fall within a three kilometre radius of planned wind farms. The funds vary in size but maximum grant value is usually set between £10,000 and £15,000.

Preference is likely to be given to projects with an emphasis on improving the environment or the local community.

Further information can be found on the South Yorkshire Community Fund website as this Fund is managing all the individual funds.

Charles Hayward Foundation

The Charles Hayward Foundation is a grant-making charitable trust which makes grants to charities which are registered in the U.K.  At present the only relevant scheme for grants that would be relevant to waterway restoration is closed.  Applicants need to have a minimum annual income of £350k.