The Archives Revealed funding scheme would like to invite qualified archive professionals or those with equivalent experience to apply to join the pool of consultants for the Scoping Grants funding strand of the Archives Revealed programme.

Archives Revealed Scoping Grants fund up to 6 days of consultant time to assess a specific collection and write a report which will be used to inform the strategic plan of the archive service.

Archives Revealed is the only grant programme in the UK dedicated to the cataloguing and unlocking of archival collections. The programme is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Archives. The goal of Archives Revealed is to ensure that significant archive collections, representing the lives and perspective of all people across the UK, are made accessible to the public for research and enjoyment.

For more information about the scoping grant strand please visit the scoping grant pages.

About Scoping Grants

This funding programme has been running for almost 10 years with the aim to assist archive-holding organisations to undertake collection analysis which will help inform their plans for the future development of their archive collections.

The aims for Archives Revealed Scoping Grants are:

  • To enable grantees to develop a better understanding of the content of their collection
  • To enable grantees to strategically prioritise the development of their collection
  • To enable grantees to advocate for the development of their service
  • To enable grantees to prepare an effective case for support when applying for funding.

What will a Scoping Grant report deliver?

The programme funds a structured report that incorporates expert advice on a range of areas relating to collections management and the development of the archive. The report structure is designed to enable the objectives of the service to be met.

The reports provide an overview of the current status of the collection, and analysis of overall physical condition, significance, existing and potential use, levels of access, and existing documentation, before concluding with recommendations about next steps and development goals for the service.

What exactly will be contained in each report?

Introduction

  • Objectives of the analysis being undertaken
  • Overview of the collection in existing state to cover extent, storage, provenance, ownership, management, skills available in the organisation, and extent of commitment of financial resource to the collection in question. This should also cover the extent of appraisal and sorting that has taken place on the collection to date.

Physical condition

  • Top level analysis of the physical condition of the collection

Access, arrangement and documentation

  • An overall analysis of the existing access to the collection, including the extent to which it is physically accessible, the extent of appraisal that needs to take place, the arrangement of the collection and whether any rearrangement is needed, and any listing, cataloguing or other documentation available

Use/Research Potential

  • Analysis of the significance of the content within the framework provided.
  • Analysis of the potential for use, research or engagement opportunities with the collections

Next steps recommendations

  • Summary analysis providing recommendations based on the above sections detailing what might be an appropriate goal for the collection held. The report will recommend next steps for how they might achieve this goal.
  • This might include recommendations of other funding opportunities they can explore to implement some of the recommendations – for example Archives Revealed cataloguing grants

Conclusion

  • Summary analysis of why the collection requires development including advantages and opportunities that might be beneficial to the collection or their organisation.

What work is expected from an Archives Revealed Scoping Grants Consultant?

A consultant or expert acting as an adviser for the Scoping Grants programme will be expected to deliver the following work as part of the grant:

  • An introductory phone call to the archive organisation to introduce yourself, schedule meetings, and set timescales
  • An initial visit to the archive service/organisation to meet and interview staff and learn more about the organisation and the collection and service. You will also see the collection in its existing state and establish the objectives and needs of the service.
  • A second visit to the archive service/organisation to undertake the assessment and analysis – this may take several days
  • A follow up interview/meeting to check information and follow up queries – this might be done in person or by phone
  • One or two days to write the structured analysis report about the archive collection and make appropriate recommendations for future action.
  • Delivery of the structured report, and facilitating a debriefing meeting to explain the report and advise on next steps

Fees

Archives Revealed will award successful applicant organisations £3000 for their scoping project which must be used to pay a consultant fee of £2,400 for approximately 6 days work.

The grantee will contract the consultant for their project and pay the fees directly. The remaining £600 will be available for the consultant’s travel expenses which they will need to claim with receipts once the project has been completed. This funding can’t be used for any other purpose than the consultants fee and expenses. In exceptional circumstances, if additional travel expenses are needed this will need to be authorised between the grantee and Archives Revealed before costs are incurred.

How will advisers be recruited and approved?

To apply, please complete the Scoping Grant new consultant application questionnaire.

Successful applicants will be added to an approved list of archive experts and freelance consultants who have the relevant skills and expertise to carry out the analysis and reporting process. Those approved can either be freelance archivists, or can be employed by an organisation offering advice as an expert service.

Training will be given regarding how to deliver the reporting funded by Archives Revealed. Training will be delivered by the Archives Revealed team. We will endeavour to deliver to training in a way which is easy to access.

Archives Revealed will share our approved list of archive experts and freelance consultants with successful grantees. The grantee will contact the consultant directly.

If you have any questions, please contact the Archives Revealed team at archivegrants@nationalarchives.gov.uk