The Spaces, Places and Belonging Community Hub is a programme for organisations throughout the United Kingdom led by The National Archives, in partnership with Leeds Museums & Galleries, the National Library of Wales, and the Community Archives & Heritage Group.
The programme aims to respond to the long-standing challenge of how “to make innovation and learning from community-facing projects more sustainable, transferable, and accessible” in the UK’s GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) and heritage sectors. Through a supportive funding structure, it aims to help communities and organisations share their work more widely and contribute to a growing body of knowledge that others can learn from and build upon.
Project Grants of up to £30,000 are available to support substantial, collaborative initiatives between at least one GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) or heritage organisation and one community group. These grants are designed to fund in-depth research, skills development, and the creation of lasting resources that reflect diverse voices and experiences. Whether building on a previous Seed Corn project or starting something entirely new, Project Grants aim to foster meaningful change and long-term value for both communities and institutions.
At the heart of these grants is a commitment to co-design and community leadership. Projects should be inclusive, sustainable, and impactful, with a strong emphasis on shared ownership and mutual benefit for all participants. The funding is intended to support practical, creative, and developmental work that strengthens relationships between GLAM organisations and the communities they serve.
There will be two application rounds for Project Grants, and the panel will review applications within two months of the application deadline. Although applications for the first round of Project Grants will officially open in April 2026, now is the ideal moment to begin exploring potential collaborations, reaching out to discuss your ideas with us, and mapping out possible opportunities. Use this period to build connections, refine your concepts, and lay the groundwork for a strong proposal when the time comes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to speak to the Community Hub team about their proposals at an early stage to ensure they align with the purpose of the funding.
Eligible costs could include:
- Staff time or freelance fees for project delivery
- Community engagement and co-design activities
- Training and skills development for participants
- Travel and subsistence for project participants
- Materials, equipment, or venue hire
- Digital tools, platforms, or content creation
- Evaluation and dissemination of project outcomes
- Translation or accessibility services
- General organisational overheads or core running costs
By applying to a Project grant, you will also gain access to a dedicated skills development and training programme, offering a wide range of learning opportunities tailored to the unique challenges faced by organisations and practitioners in the sector. This will be made available to all applicants, whether successful or not. You will be able to expect interactive workshops, expert-led webinars, and collaborative activities designed to strengthen professional skills, encourage peer networking, and share best practice. The programme will be shaped by feedback from local communities and sector partners, ensuring its relevance and practical value to those taking part. The programme is still in development and more details will be published on our website in the new year.
If you have any questions about the scheme, either contact Sophie Anstee de Mas, our Community Hub Manager, or book in a 30 minute consultation with a member of the Community Hub team.
Are you eligible for funding?
To determine your eligibility for funding, consider whether you are a GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) or Heritage organisation, or part of a community group as defined above?
Then consider whether your proposed activity would fall into the scope of community heritage: does your project work to record or share histories, cultures or stories? Does it explore our senses of space, place or belonging? Are you trying to shift the focus from the usual national histories to a more localised narrative?
If your work aligns with these definitions, you are likely eligible to apply. For comprehensive criteria and application details, consult the relevant How to Apply pages.