In November 2023, The National Lottery Heritage Fund named Medway as one of 9 places who will benefit from £200 million of investment as part of their 'Heritage Places' initiative.
The initiative responds to local need and opportunity, supporting places to use heritage to build pride in place, inspire local communities and power regeneration.
As part of the initial investment phase, we'll support Medway's heritage community to:
- shape a long-term shared ambition for heritage in Medway
- develop new ideas and approaches
- unearth new stories which deserve to be told.
We want to strengthen Medway’s existing heritage offer and support as many people and communities as possible to celebrate Medway’s people, places and stories.
Funding opportunities
This summer, we are offering grant funding to support projects which:
- pilot new approaches or ways of working
- engage new audiences
- tell new stories
- expand your skills.
Projects should have a strong heritage focus and celebrate one or more of the following in Medway:
- high streets
- town centres
- houses and estates
- parks and green spaces
- the River Medway
- cultures and traditions.
We encourage applicants to consider how their projects might respond to the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Investment Principles of:
- saving heritage
- protecting the environment
- inclusion, access and participation
- organisational sustainability.
You can apply for £250 to £10,000 (or up to £15,000 in exceptional circumstances with prior approval).
Who can apply
Applicants should live in or have a connection to Medway.
We encourage those who have never applied for funding before to apply. We'll prioritise applications based on:
- the quality of the project
- how you intend to use the project to develop what you do
- supporting those who have not previously had funding or who have not had significant funding.
We encourage individuals, groups and organisations to apply. You do not need to be legally constituted, but you will need to select an individual who'll be responsible for your funding if you are not a legally constituted group.
Funding deadlines
Applications will close on Tuesday 30 September 2024 and there are different submission deadlines for round 1 and round 2. We intend to award half the funding to each round.
Round 1
- Submission deadline: 20 August 2024
- Delivery period: 20 September 2024 to 31 January 2025.
Round 2
- Submission deadline: 30 September 2024
- Delivery period: 30 October 2024 to 28 February 2025.
We'll provide feedback and guidance for any unsuccessful applicants and will support those we fund with training and mentoring where useful.
Apply for funding
If you're applying for over £10,000, you'll need to book a 1-2-1 advice and support session before submitting your application.
Download the Medway Heritage Place grant funding application form
Once you have completed the application form, email it to heritageplace@medway.gov.uk.
Throughout this period, applications remain open to The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s existing funding streams.
More about the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Advice and support with your application
We're running 1-2-1 advice and support sessions to help you develop your idea and submit your application. You must book this session if you're applying for over £10,000.
To sign up, please email heritageplace@medway.gov.uk.
Information and question and answer (Q&A) sessions
You can also attend a grant funding information and Q&A session.
You can find out more and sign up for free via Eventbrite.
Read the Eventbrite privacy policy.
Sign up for the 3 September session online (5.30pm to 6.30pm)
Sign up for the 16 September session online (4pm to 5pm)
Access support
We encourage applications from those with access needs.
If you would benefit from access support to submit your application, email heritageplace@medway.gov.uk.
You can also apply by answering the application questions in audio or video form if you prefer.
Your invitation to shape what happens next
Over the summer we'll be engaging with heritage and community groups and those with an interest in Medway’s heritage.
Drop-in sessions at Medway libraries:
- 27 August (9am to 12.30pm) - Cuxton Library
- 13 September (9am to 12.30pm) - Wigmore Library
- 13 September (1.30pm to 5pm) - Walderslade Village Library
- 17 September (10am to 1pm) - Grain Library
- 17 September (2pm to 5pm) - Hoo Library.
Check back on this page for details of further surveys and opportunities to take part.
If you would like to invite the Medway Heritage Place team to your event or meeting, email heritageplace@medway.gov.uk.
About the Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund support projects that connect people and communities to heritage.
Their vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. The National Lottery Heritage Fund believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
The Medway Heritage Place programme is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to bring Medway’s stories to life in new ways for new audiences.