How to Apply - Portals

Application

You can apply for the Community Hub bursaries scheme 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

Bursaries will be offered on a rolling basis from September 2025 to September 2027 and will be assessed quarterly by a panel.

Submission deadlines for panel review are:

Round	Opens	Closes	Panel Meeting
1	15th September 2025	31st October 2025	December 2025
2	1st November 2025	6th February 2026	March 2026
3	7th February 2026	4th May 2026	June 2026
4	5th May 2026	3rd August 2026	September 2026
5	4th August 2026	2nd November 2026	December 2026
6	3rd November 2026	1st February 2027	March 2027
7	2nd February 2027	3rd May 2027	June 2027
8	4th May 2027	2nd August 2027	September 2027

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, the next distribution would be on 4th May, and therefore your start date should be after June 2026.

We would expect Bursary funded projects to last between six months to a 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

Bursaries of up to £1,000 are open to individuals engaged in community heritage work, regardless of their career stage or background. Applicants do not need to be affiliated with an organisation, and you are welcome to apply as an independent practitioner. Our aim is to support those who may not have previously had access to professional development opportunities, helping to build confidence and capability across the sector.

Any individual or organisation applying to the Bursaries scheme needs to:

Be involved in some way to the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) or 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/live in the UK (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales) and have the right to access public funds.
Have a UK bank account in the exact name you’re applying in. This can either be an individual’s bank account, or the organisation’s bank account that you are applying through.
Be at least 18 years old
Not have received a Community Hub Bursary 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 Bursary 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 training and development activities. These could include, but are not limited to:

Course or workshop fees, whether in-person or online
Travel and accommodation expenses related to training
Mentoring or coaching sessions
Attendance at conferences or sector events
Purchase of learning materials such as books or toolkits
Costs associated with shadowing/placements in galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM organisations)

The emphasis is on practical, meaningful development that enhances skills and knowledge in community heritage work. While bursaries are designed to be flexible, costs that are not eligible are:

Salaries or wages (except where directly tied to training)
Equipment purchases not directly related to training
Retrospective costs (i.e. activities already completed before the bursary 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

Bursaries have a single application, completed through an online form:

Application Form

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Need
Audiences, Engagement and Impact
Knowledge Sharing

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 experts from within the four partner institutions. The panel members are:

To be announced shortly

Project Consultations

If you are thinking of applying for a Community Hub Bursary, 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.