How to Apply - Portals

Application

You can apply for the Community Hub Seed Corn grans through an online application form:

You can also download a word version of the form here.

We ask that you still submit your application through the online portal, but if you have accessibility requirements that make this difficult for you please do get in contact to let us know.

Timetable

There will be two application rounds for the Seed Corn Grants: one launching in September 2025 and another in February 2026. Submission deadlines for 2025-26 panel review are:

Round	Opens	Closes	Panel Meeting
1	15th September 2025	28th November 2025	January 2026
2	2nd February 2026	17th April 2026	June 2026

Start Dates and Project length

Your start date should be after the panel meeting that reflects when you submitted your application. For example, if you submitted your application on 10th February 2026, your start date should be after June 2026.

We would expect Seed Corn projects to last no more than one year, with scope for some variation where appropriate and justified in your application. However all projects must be completed, with all money spent, by December 2027.

Eligibility

Seed Corn Grants are open to a wide range of organisations across the UK that are interested in exploring new approaches to community engagement with heritage. Grants are available to community groups and to GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) and other heritage organisations working with communities.

We particularly encourage applications from smaller and grassroots groups.

Any organisation applying for a Seed Corn grant needs to:

Be involved with, or linked to, the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) and/or wider Heritage sector. Higher education institutes and/or Independent research organisations (IROs) cannot be the lead on applications, but can be listed as partners.
Be based in the UK (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales)
Have a UK bank account.
Not have received a Community Hub Seed Corn grant before. Previously unsuccessful applicants can apply again with the agreement of the Community Hub team.

Reapplication

If you were unsuccessful in a previous round of Seed Corn funding, you are allowed to reapply. However, we do ask that you arrange a chat with us first to discuss your original application and establish the areas for improvement.

Finance and Budgeting

Eligible costs include a wide range of costs. These could include, but are not limited to:

Staff time or freelance fees for project delivery
Materials and supplies for workshops, exhibitions, or events
Venue hires or equipment rental
General organisational overheads or core running costs
Travel and subsistence for project participants
Community consultation or co-design activities
Digital tools or platforms to support engagement
Evaluation and documentation of pilot activities

Costs that are not eligible are:

Retrospective costs (i.e. activities already completed before the grant is awarded)
Subsidies to create products intended to be sold
The grant may not be used for the following purposes: payments that support activity intended to influence Parliament, Government or political parties, or attempting to influence the awarding or renewal of contracts and grants, or attempting to influence legislative or regulatory action.

Assessment Process

The final round of Seed Corn funding will open on 2nd February 2026, with an application deadline of 17th April 2026. Applications can be made through our online application form:

Application Form

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Need
Inclusion, participation and partnership working
Audiences, engagement and impact
Delivery and management

The Community Hub team reserves the right to reserve and prioritise funding for a portion of smaller and grassroots organisations applying to the programme to ensure diversity and inclusion in projects.

Each application will be scored numerically against the criteria above, according to the following scale:

Score	1	2	3	4	5
Rating	Poor	Low	Good	Excellent	Outstanding

See our Assessment Criteria for Further Guidance:

Assessment Criteria

Portfolio Balancing
Applications will be reviewed by the panel using the published criteria and considered on their individual strengths. The Community Hub will use these recommendations to help guide the final funding decisions, while also keeping in mind the importance of shaping a well‑rounded and inclusive portfolio from the strongest proposals.

As part of this process, the Community Hub may take into account:

Geographic coverage – aiming, where possible, for a broad spread of applications from across the UK.
Organisational diversity – hoping to reflect the wide range of organisations working across the GLAM and community heritage sectors.
Thematic focus – seeking to support a mix of research areas and projects that explore a variety of challenges, topics, or themes

Panel Assessment
Applications are assessed by a panel of sector experts. The panel members are:

Jessamy Carlson – Community Hub Principal Investigator and Principle Records Specialist, The National Archives
Nia Daniels – Community Hub Co-Investigator and Head of Unique Collections Department, National Library of Wales
Michelle Regan – Community Representative
Chania Fox – National Youth Development Officer, English Heritage
Stephanie Shaw – Service Manager, Kirklees Libraries
Charlotte Garratt – Community Development Research Manager, Historic England
Heather Roberts – Archive and Museum Manager, Royal Northern College of Music
Eleanor Moore – Sustainable Volunteering Officer, South West Museum Development Programme
Ellen Addis – Academic Engagement Officer, The National Archives
Holly Staynor – Head of Projects and Processes, The National Archives
Melinda Haunton – Accreditation Programme Manager, The National Archives
Oliver Finnegan – Records Specialist, The National Archives
Natasha Kitcher – Digital Researcher, The National Archives
James Heyworth Taylor – Sector Training and Events Lead, The National Archives
Isobel Churcher – Strategic Partnerships Manager, The National Archives
Alice Pace – MOD Access Case Advisor, The National Archives

Project Consultations

If you are thinking of applying for a Community Hub Seed Corn grant, or if you have any questions about the scheme in general, 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.