Heritage organisations

National Trust

Georgian Group

The Georgian Group is the national charity dedicated to preserving Georgian buildings and gardens. It was founded in 1937.  

We aim to protect historic buildings through providing advice to owners and architects, campaigning, and through our role as statutory consultees in the planning system. Our annual awards promote excellence in design and conservation. In its casework, the Georgian Group advises councils, church bodies, and others on threats to the historic fabric and setting of structures built between 1700 and 1837.

The Group organises lectures and other events aimed at improving the understanding of aspects of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century built heritage.  We also produce technical advice leaflets, and promote the publication of academic research through our journal.

We have a small grants scheme for historic buildings, the Cleary Fund which is distributed annually in September.

Areas of interest

Areas of Interest

• Listed Building applications for works of alteration and demolition for buildings of all kinds containing fabric and fittings which date from between 1700 and 1837.
• Applications for works significantly affecting the setting of buildings or structures constructed between 1700 and 1837 or those affecting the character of those parts of our historic environment with a primarily Georgian character.
• The care and preservation of Georgian buildings.
• Promoting good design in the setting of the Georgian built environment and Georgian parks and gardens.
• Promoting a better understanding of eighteenth and early nineteenth century architecture and designed landscapes.

Please note that the Georgian Group cannot give advice on the following

• Works affecting the fabric or setting of buildings which entirely date from either before 1700 or after 1837.
• We cannot undertake structural surveys of buildings.
• Issues relating to tax or VAT and historic buildings.
• Soft landscaping in historic parks and gardens.
• Furniture, decorative items, works of art, and other portable items which are not fixtures or fittings.
• Archaeological issues.
• Green belt issues.

Training and Education

• We provide lectures, tours, and events aimed at a wide range of audiences both at home and abroad.
• A wide range of publications including technical advice sheets, a magazine, and our highly respected journal which disseminates primary research on a wide range of subject matters.
• An extensive library of publications on Georgian architecture housed at our London HQ, which contains books dating from the late seventeenth century to the present day. (Consultable by appointment).
• A large collection of historic engravings, watercolours and drawings of Georgian country houses, known as ‘The Pardoe Collection’. (Consultable by appointment).
• Running practical skills master classes and specialist study courses.

Awards

Our Architectural Awards recognise exemplary conservation and restoration projects in the United Kingdom and reward those who have shown the vision and commitment to restore Georgian buildings and designed landscapes. Awards are also given for high-quality new buildings in Georgian contexts and in the Classical tradition.

Grants

The group is not generally a grant making body but has two small specialised funds. 

The F.E. Cleary Heritage Fund

Through the F. E. Cleary Heritage Fund (commonly known as The Cleary Fund), The Georgian Group gives small grants each year towards the repair and restoration of Georgian buildings and monuments in the UK. The intention is to pump-prime schemes, prompt other sources to make grants and to fund specific elements in larger schemes such as the restoration of memorials, historic fixtures and fittings or decorative ironwork. Around five grants, averaging about £1500 each, are given annually. Grants are usually made towards the conservation of buildings in public ownership or to which there is public access, although they may occasionally be given towards other projects such as conservator’s reports or the recording of threatened buildings. 

The Georgian Group/BSECS Dunscombe Colt Research Fellowship

The award, jointly funded by the Georgian Group and the British Society for Eighteenth Century Studies, is intended to facilitate a one-month research visit by a member of The Georgian Group to the Special Collections of the Bodleian Library in the University of Oxford. Applications will be considered from candidates seeking to research projects relating to the architecture or material culture (for example, sculpture) of the long eighteenth century (1660-1840). The award is part-funded from the proceeds of the bequest from Mrs Armida Dunscombe Colt and is named in her honour.

SAVE Britain’s Heritage

SAVE has been described as the most influential conservation group to have been established since William Morris founded the Society for the Protection Ancient Buildings over a century ago. It was created in 1975 - European Architectural Heritage Year - by a group of journalists, historians, architects, and planners to campaign publicly for endangered historic buildings. Through press releases, lightening leaflets, reports, books and exhibitions, SAVE has championed the cause of decaying country houses, redundant churches and chapels, disused mills and warehouses, blighted streets and neighbourhoods, cottages and town halls, railway stations, hospitals, military buildings and asylums.

From the start, SAVE has always placed a special emphasis on the possibilities of alternative uses for historic buildings and, in a number of cases, it has prepared its own schemes for re-use of threatened buildings. On repeated occasions SAVE proposals have been instrumental in giving threatened buildings a renewed lease of life. SAVE is also very active on the broader issues of preservation policy.

SAVE welcomes news of buildings at risk near you as well as information on your local campaigns. Please visit our website regularly to check on breaking news and updates on current campaigns.

If you are not already a Friend of SAVE then please take this opportunity to join. An annual subscription of £25 to SAVE provides you with unlimited access to our Buildings at Risk register, newsletters on our activities and discounts on publications. 

Theatres Trust

The Theatres Trust is The National Advisory Public Body for Theatres, and we work to safeguard theatre use, or the potential for such use and can help you establish the most viable and effective solution for your theatre building.

Established by The Theatres Trust Act 1976, we are a statutory consultee in the planning system in England, Scotland and Wales. We comment on theatre related planning and listed building applications and advise on planning policy to secure cultural policies that protect theatres.

The Trust delivers our statutory planning role in England through The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, which requires the Trust to be consulted on planning applications involving land on which there is a theatre or which will have an impact on theatre use.

This applies to all theatre buildings, old and new, including those currently in theatre use, those in other uses, and those that are disused. Ciné-variety theatres, circus buildings, arts centres and spaces that have been converted or adapted for theatre use, such as pub theatres, are all within our remit.

The Trust’s central London Resource Centre also provides access to a specialist theatre buildings Reference Library including books and architectural plans.

Areas of interest

Planning

• Pre-application consultation
• Planning and listed building applications
• Local and national planning policy
• Neighbourhood planning

Theatres at Risk

• Annual Theatre Buildings at Risk Register
• Casework

Advice

• Design and specialist conservation guidance
• Ceiling maintenance and guidance
• Advisory review
• Annual conference
• Workshops
• Assistance with: theatre ownership, capital development, asset maintenance and management, architecture, design, conservation, regeneration, place making, grant applications, and environmental sustainability
• Enquiry Service: Enquiry Service: Theatre Archive and Reference Library, online Theatres Database and Image Library, educational events and talkss

Grants

• Theatres Protection Fund Small Grants Scheme
• London Small Grants Scheme

Churches Conservation Trust

The Churches Conservation Trust is the national charity protecting historic churches at risk.

We’ve saved over 340 beautiful buildings which attract nearly 2 million visitors a year. With our help and with your support they are kept open and in use – living once again at the heart of their communities.

Our estate is the largest single collection of historic churches in the country, ranging from untouched Medieval gems in idyllic rural settings, to the ornately impressive Victorian church in a busy town centre, as well as a small number of inner urban churches with serious repair problems, which may need a new use to survive. CCT's churches are of international importance and interest.

Areas of interest

• Conservation of historic churches
• Regeneration and new use
• Church tourism
• Volunteerism
• Learning

Training & Education
We offer various training and educational opportunities including school programmes, apprenticeships, Cathedral Camps, placements and craft skills courses.

Historic Houses Association (HHA)

The HHA, which celebrates its 40^th birthday in 2013, represents 1500 independently-owned historic houses, castles and gardens throughout the UK.  A third are open to visitors, attracting some 14 million visits each year, and many are also active businesses, hosting weddings, corporate or private events, staging festivals, concerts or conferences;  many others welcome special interest groups,  tours and other by-appointment visits.  One in five of all members welcome educational visits - there are more than 300,000 such visits annually.

Areas of interest

The HHA:

• works for the future of these 1500 houses, the heritage they conserve and the businesses, families and employees they support, by lobbying on their behalf at national, regional and local level. Whenever possible, we work in partnership with other heritage organisations; 
• provides technical and specialist advice, support, site visits, seminars, networks and information to property owners on a wide range of issues including planning, health and safety, security, tax, health and safety, marketing, accessibility and education (the HHA runs a Learning Advisory Service for members);
• offers a Friends' Membership for people wishing to support the HHA's aims and enjoy free visits to HHA houses,  and runs special events and tours for Friends.  Currently, we have 35,000 Friends;
• promotes visiting,  activities and events at member houses and the opportunities they provide for access, learning, fun and discovery;
• manages a Corporate Membership scheme for associated businesses to meet and work with owners and the association;
• provides policy makers, the media and others with information about the role, contribution  and public value of privately-owned heritage

Awards

HHA/Christie's Garden of the Year Award

The  Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie's, has been presented annually since 1984. The award goes to the HHA Member garden which has been voted as a favourite by the Friends throughout the year. The award reflects the enormous enjoyment which people experience from visiting gardens each year and the personal involvement of the owners in the development and upkeep of the gardens.

HHA/Sotheby's Restoration Award

This award was launched in 2008, with sponsorship from Sotheby's, to recognise and celebrate the restoration work that is continually being undertaken by members of the HHA throughout the United Kingdom.   Restoration projects, which must cover the dominant features of a room, building or folly, are judged according to the way in which they respect and are in sympathy with the historic quality of the building. Projects must be open to the public.

Heritage Education Trust

The HHA  has been a supporter of the  Heritage Education Trust since its inception. http://www.heritageeducationtrust.org.uk.    The Trust manages the prestigious Sandford Awards for excellence in heritage education provision and  seeks to encourage innovation, transferability and sustainability alongside fun and enjoyment in learning programmes.

Grants

The HHA supports the work of the Heritage Conservation Trust, to aid restoration of art in historic houses and to support learning, access and research projects.  http://www.heritageconservationtrust.org.uk

Victorian Society

The Victorian Society is the champion for Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales.  We were founded in 1958 to campaign for the preservation of important buildings dating from 1837-1914.  As a statutory consultee on applications for listed buildings consent we offer advice to councils and churches on the preservation of important buildings.  We run campaigns to save threatened buildings and publish a journal which contributes to the academic literature on the work of our period.  The Society also runs an extensive events programme.

Areas of interest

Care and repair of Victorian and Edwardian buildings (secular)

Care and repair of Victorian and Edwardian buildings (religious)

Listed building applications for demolition, alteration or addition where the building or affected part of the building dates from 1837-1914

Training & education

• Annual lecture series
• Extensive events programme
• Journal containing original writing on the architecture of our period

Grants

The Victorian Society is not a grant-making body.
 

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage through innovative investment in projects with a lasting impact on people and places. As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, with around £375million a year to invest in new projects and a considerable body of knowledge, we are also a leading advocate for the value of heritage to modern life. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our heritage.

Through our grant making we aim to:

• Conserve the UK’s diverse heritage for present and future generations to experience and enjoy
• Help more people, and a wider range of people, to take an active part in and make decisions about their heritage
• Help people to learn about their own and other people’s heritage

The Heritage Lottery Fund is administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) which was given the responsibility of distributing a share of money raised through the National Lottery for Good Causes, to heritage across the UK. We are a non-departmental public body accountable to Parliament via the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Areas of interest

What we fund

We fund projects which focus on heritage. Heritage includes many different things from the past that we value and want to pass on to future generations, for example:

• People’s memories and experiences (often recorded as ‘oral history’ or spoken history);
• Histories of people and communities (including people who have migrated to the UK);
• Languages and dialects;
• Cultural traditions such as stories, festivals, crafts, music, dance and costumes;
• Histories of places and events;
• Historic buildings and streets;
• Archaeological sites;
• Collections of objects, books or documents in museums, libraries or archives;
• Natural and designed landscapes and gardens;
• Wildlife, including special habitats and species; and
• Places and objects linked to our industrial, maritime and transport history.

Our grant programmes

We fund heritage projects of all sizes, with grants from £3,000 to over £5million.

We want to support projects that make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities.

Our Heritage (£3,000 to £100,000)

This is our general small grants programme for all types of heritage projects. It is a flexible programme particularly designed for voluntary and community groups and first-time applicants.

Sharing Heritage (£3,000 to £10,000) From April 2013

This new grants programme is for any not-for-profit group wanting to explore, share and celebrate their community’s heritage.

Heritage Grants (Grants of over £100,000)

This is our open programme for grants over £100,000, for any type of project related to the national, regional, or local heritage in the UK.

Young Roots (£3,000 to £50,000)

This programme is for projects led by young people. It aims to involve 11-25 year-olds in finding out about their heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting community involvement.

All Our Stories (Grants from £3,000 to £10,000)

All Our Stories is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in their heritage. With our funding and support you could plan activities that help you explore, share and celebrate yours.

Townscape Heritage Initiative (£100,000 to £2,000,000)

Townscape Heritage Initiative makes grants that help communities to regenerate Conservation Areas displaying particular social and economic need.

Heritage Enterprise (£100,000 to £5,000,000) From April 2013

The Heritage Enterprise programme is for projects that seek to bring back historic buildings into active commercial use, helping to improve the local built environment whilst at the same time stimulating economic growth in under-performing areas across the UK.

Parks for People (£100,000 to £5million)

Parks for People is for projects related to historic parks and cemeteries in the UK.

Landscape Partnerships (£250,000 to £2million)

This programme supports schemes that are led by partnerships of local, regional and national interests, which aim to conserve areas of distinctive landscape character throughout the UK.

Skills for the Future (£100,000 to £1million)

Skills for the Future funds projects which provide training placements to meet skills shortages in the heritage sector, and fully support trainees to learn practical skills.

Grants for Places of Worship (£10,000 to £250,000)

The Grants for Places of Worship programme is for projects that involve urgent structural repairs to places of worship that are at risk. As part of a repair project we can also fund work to encourage greater community use and engagement.

Catalyst (Various)

The Catalyst grants initiatives form part of a broader partnership initiative between HLF, DCMS and Arts Council England (ACE). It aims to encourage more private giving to culture and heritage, and to build the capacity and skills of cultural and heritage organisations to fundraise from private donors, corporate sources, trusts and foundations.

Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC)

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (the IHBC) is the principal professional body for building conservation practitioners and historic environment specialists working in the UK.

The IHBC is a registered charity and as such exists to:

• help people, by promoting advice and understanding on the care and conservation, enjoyment and appreciation of our historic places for all, including its benefits, significance and management, because conservation relies on informed people
• help conservation, by supporting specialists, specialisms, and specialist interests in conservation, because conservation requires specialised care
• help conservation specialists, by supporting, encouraging and challenging members and prospective members of the IHBC, because conservation demands specialists informed, coordinated, scrutinised and inspired by a professional body.

Areas of interest

Advice

Advocacy

Awards (Student)

Bursaries

Consultation

Employment

Events

Guidance

Jobs

Local Branch networks

News

Partnership

Publications

Registers (including Skills Registers)

Research

Skills

Social networking

Standards

Training

Volunteering

Web support

War Memorials Trust

War Memorials Trust works for the protection and conservation of war memorials within the UK to ensure they remain part of our communities forever.  War memorials commemorate our shared past, an important part of our national culture.

War Memorials Trust seeks to cooperate with other organisations, at both national and local level, to better safeguard the future of war memorials in both their social and historical context.

War Memorials Trust is an independent registered charity and as such is dependent on voluntary income.

Conservation

The Trust has a dedicated Conservation Team that can provide free advice on any memorial issue or technical conservation enquiry.  This service is available to anyone with a memorial enquiry.  The Conservation Team can also advise on maintenance works and how to prevent theft.  The Trust’s website has extensive information on conservation and repair and helpsheets on most general and technical memorial issues: www.warmemorials.org/conservation-advice.

Grants

War Memorials Trust administers grant schemes which cover the whole of the UK.  Grants are for conservation and repair of war memorials and all grant schemes are open to anyone to apply; individuals or organisations, including councils.  Information on grants, eligibility and how to apply are available on the Trust’s website: www.warmemorials.org/grants.  Please note that the Trust cannot provide funding retrospectively under any circumstances.

Learning

Launched in August 2011, War Memorials Trust’s youth focused Learning Programme works to educate today’s young people, the war memorial custodians of tomorrow, about the  
signifi­cance of war memorials.

By investigating the stories of those commemorated and discovering the fascinating history of local war memorials, we hope young people in schools, and those involved in Cadets, Scouting, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and youth groups, will be inspired to continue to preserve our war memorial heritage.  More information is available on the Learning Programme website: www.learnaboutwarmemorials.org.

Projects

The Trust is involved in a number of projects which may be of assistance to those interested in, or custodians of, war memorials:

• In Memoriam 2014

This is a partnership between the SmartWater Foundation and War Memorials Trust.  In Memoriam 2014 protects memorials at risk of theft or damage by marking them with a forensic liquid called SmartWater.  The crime prevention fluid, which is being made available at no charge, will not only make memorials uniquely identifiable, it also offers robust traceability should a theft occur.  This will act as a significant deterrent to those considering desecrating our war memorials by massively increasing their chances of detection and subsequent arrest.  Further information and registration are available on the website: www.inmemoriam2014.org.

• War Memorials Online

War Memorials Online is run by War Memorial Trust and supported by Historic England.  It will bring together, for the first time, information on the UK’s war memorials held by the leading experts.  Working with the public, it is the ambition of War Memorials Online to create the UK’s most comprehensive understanding of war memorials.  Members of the public can browse our current records and upload their own content, photos and condition reports to help create a complete picture of all war memorials across the country.  For further information please visit the website: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk.

• War Memorials Officers

In November 2010 War Memorials Trust approached local authorities across the UK to ask if they had a War Memorials Officer.  A War Memorials Officer is the single, or main, point of contact at the council who deals with war memorial issues. They are rarely called 'War Memorials Officer' within the local authority structure as war memorials are just one part of their job but War Memorials Trust uses the phrase to identify the person who deals with war memorials.  Details of your local War Memorials Officer can be found on the Trust’s website: www.warmemorials.org/wmo.

Twentieth Century Society

The Twentieth Century Society exists to safeguard the heritage of architecture and design in Britain from 1914 onwards. The Society’s prime objectives are conservation and education and to protect the buildings and design that characterise the Twentieth Century in Britain. Our aim is extend knowledge and appreciation of them, whether iconic buildings like the Royal Festival Hall or every artefacts, like the red telephone box.

The Twentieth Century Society was founded as the Thirties Society in 1970 – the year the Thirties exhibition was shown at the Hayward Gallery. The need for a specialised conservation society covering the period after 1914 (the limit of the scope of the Victorian Society, founded twenty years earlier) was increasingly appreciated in the 1970s as understanding and awareness of twentieth century design developed, and many key buildings faced demolition. The name was later changed to reflect our increasingly broad focus.

We are the key organisation concerned with buildings of all styles and all building types and the Society is a constituent member of the Joint Committee of National Amenity Societies. We are consulted by all English local planning authorities on applications for listed building consent involving partial or total demolition. We also campaign for listing of buildings we consider to be of suitable quality.

We run a regular lecture series on themes as diverse as twentieth century department stores, to Britain and the Bauhaus, and we publish a magazine three times a year. We also run a series of foreign visits and regular tours around England to a range of some of the best examples of architecture and design from our period, ranging from private houses and public buildings to churches and protected historic landscapes.

Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA)

Established in 1991, it aims to bring together individuals and organisations with a mutual interest in public sculpture and monuments, their production, preservation and history.

The PMSA aims to heighten public appreciation of Britain's public sculpture, and to contribute to its preservation, protection and promotion. It seeks to achieve this through several projects that include: the National Recording Project, the Sculpture Journal, Public Sculpture of Britain series, Save our Sculpture and the Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture, and the Marsh Fountain of the Year Award.

Areas of interest

• Public Sculpture
• National Recording Project
• Save our Sculpture
• Sculpture theft

Awards

• Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture
• Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Fountains
• Marsh Award for Excellence in Restoration

ICOMOS-UK

ICOMOS-UK is the UK National Committee of ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites.  We are an independent charity, formed in 1965.  Our mission is to promote and support best practice in the conservation, management, planning and development of our historic environment in the UK and internationally. 

At an international level ICOMOS develops best practice in the conservation and management of cultural sites and has a special role as adviser to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on cultural world heritage sites.

Areas of interest

Membership

We have an active membership of individuals and institutions who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and internationally.

Events

We run regular events relating to world heritage and conservation

Committees

Our UK and international committees are active in developing new thinking and practice about how to conserve, manage and promote cultural heritage.

Heritage Alliance

The Heritage Alliance is the biggest coalition of heritage interests in the country, representing over 90 non-governmental heritage bodies with a combined membership of over 5million. Founded in 2002 to promote the central role of the independent heritage movement in the historic environment, it has become a leading advocate of everyone from specialist advisers, practitioners and managers to volunteers, owners, national funders and regeneration projects. To this end, it briefs decision-makers, coordinates action amongst members and updates the sector on relevant policy changes.

Areas of interest

Advice

• EU and UK historic environment policy
• Advocacy and public affairs
• Funding sources
• Capacity building

Advocacy

• Engaging with policy-makers in Government and Parliament
• Comprehensive briefing for members and media
• Advice and guidance for interested bodies.

Information-sharing and networking

• Regional networking events
• Debates and workshops on relevant issues
• The extensive network provides timely and expert advice
• Heritage Update e-bulletin circulated every fortnight. For those who wish to subscribe, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Awards

• The Heritage Alliance Heroes Award for outstanding volunteer work

Grants

• The Heritage Alliance is not a grant-giving body, but does maintain the Heritage Funding Directory with up-to-date listings of available grants, awards and other sources of funding.
   

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Areas of interest

Historic environment

We are responsible for ensuring that the historic environment of England is properly protected and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations.

We seek to promote understanding of the historic environment so that people can appreciate and enjoy the heritage assets around them.

We fund English Heritage, Government’s statutory advisor on the historic environment, and the largest source of non-lottery grant funding for heritage assets.

We are responsible for the policy directions governing the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Protecting the historic environment

Our aim is that England’s historic environment should be conserved, enhanced and enjoyed for the quality of life it brings to current and future generations.

Heritage assets

Those parts of the historic environment that are valued because of their historic, archaeological, architectural or artistic interest are known as 'heritage assets'. Some heritage assets have a level of interest that justifies statutory protection through designation.

Our responsibilities

We are responsible for designating, re-designating and de-designating the following categories of heritage asset:

• scheduled monuments
• listed buildings
• protected wreck sites

We are also responsible for determining applications for:

• scheduled monument consent
• licenses to dive on protected wreck sites

Together with English Heritage, we also work closely with other departments, such as the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that the delivery of government policy affords appropriate protection to England’s historic environment and heritage assets.

We also work with colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to coordinate UK nominations for World Heritage Sites.

Places of worship

We are responsible for managing the Government’s interests in historic places of worship.

This covers the following main areas:

• The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT)
• Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme
• Ecclesiastical Exemption

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)

The CPRE was founded in 1926 by Sir Patrick Abercrombie and now has 200 local groups, including a branch in every county.

We campaign for a beautiful and living countryside that everyone can enjoy, working to influence local and national policies to protect landscape character and diversity. CPRE regards England’s built and natural heritage as essential to the local distinctiveness of our countryside. We work to protect landscape features like hedgerows and dry-stone walls, and the Green Belt setting of historic towns such as Bath and York. Our dedicated volunteers campaign on behalf of local communities, improving local environments and influencing planning decisions.

Areas of interest

• Housing and planning
• Green belt and landscape issues
• Countryside character
• Transport
• Farming and food
• Energy and waste

Please note that CPRE cannot help with:

• Planning permission applications
• Legal advice regarding planning permission

Awards

• CPRE Mark - The Mark is awarded by CPRE branches to projects and developments that exhibit an emphasis on sustainability and have a positive impact on the local countryside and to the local community.

Grants

CPRE is not a grant-making body.

Civic Voice

Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement in England. We make places more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive. We promote civic pride. We are a small light footed organisation. As a national voice with a strong local presence we make a difference where it matters. You will find us lobbying in Whitehall and Westminster, campaigning with local volunteers, speaking out in the media, undertaking research, building partnerships and promoting civic pride. We support local groups and help them work together. We organise a national convention for the civic movement and give local groups a national voice. We combine community action with sense of place for the benefit of everyone. We talk civic sense.

Areas of interest

Planning

Heritage and conservation

Civic pride

Campaigning

Social action

Civic price

Awards

Civic Volunteer of the Year

Civic group of the Year

Civic Day Awards

Grants

Civic Voice is not a grant making body but does give financial assistance to civic societies for specific projects

ASHTAV (Association of Small Historic Towns and Villages of the United Kingdom)

ASHTAV (Association of Small Historic Towns and Villages of the United Kingdom) is an organisation that works to unite amenity and civic societies, parish and own councils in small historic towns and villages throughout Britain.

Inform

We keep our members informed of developments and best practice in local government, planning, environment, housing and transport through our magazine, Director's blog, website and seminars.

Encourages the preservation of beauty, distinctiveness, social fabric and vitality of our historic towns.

ASHTAV encourages high standards of architecture and planning so that new developments respect the existing built environment.

Who benefits?

Those with a legal and management responsibility for small towns and villages such as town and parish councils.

Those with a community interest such as amenity and civic societies.

Association of Preservation Trusts (UKAPT)

Since 1989, UK APT has been building a network that now consists of 250 building preservation trusts (BPTs). UKAPT is the only UK wide body that exclusively represents the interests of Building Preservation Trusts by providing support, strategic guidance and encouragement to the movement.

In 2010, UK APT adopted the following mission statement:

‘APT is the voice of Building Preservation Trusts in the UK; it promotes and supports the rescue and sustainable use of historic buildings at risk’.

UK APT therefore has two main roles:

1. Encouraging and assisting BPTs to be effective in carrying out their projects, achieved through the provision of advice, information, networking opportunities, publications, guidance, case-studies and knowledge sharing through our research programme and website development proposals.

2. Working to raise the profile of BPTs as the most effective and sustainable vehicles for removing Buildings from national, regional and individual local authority At Risk Registers. by lobbying on their behalf and publicizing their achievements."

Building Preservation Trusts are third sector organisations, driven by communities for the benefit of communities. This constituency of 100,000+ individuals has been delivering the Localism agenda for 25 years. Trusts address scarred historic environments by breathing new life into derelict buildings. Tackling projects that no one else will touch, they eradicate eyesores and replace them with sustainable, active places and spaces. They are unique in being volunteer-led initiatives that directly address Heritage at Risk programmes by not only raising awareness of Buildings at Risk but also tackling them head on to remove them from Building at Risk Registers.

As community regeneration agencies, BPTs have saved over 1,000 buildings for the enjoyment of future generations, leveraging over £1 billion of funding. As these are buildings for which no market solutions can be found, they are by definition more likely to be in areas of deprivation. BPTs are therefore catalysts for delivering remarkable social, economic and environmental benefits in communities across the UK as a result.

Areas of interest

UKAPT Offers:

• Extensive networking opportunities across the UK
• Comprehensive website – www.ukapt.org.uk with mapping of Trust activity, regional pages, extensive guidance for delivery of projects, membership services including access to free VAT advice
• Over 20 regional meetings per year
• National Conference
• Other events and training
• Research reports on BPT Activity in the East Midlands, the North-East of England, Wales and the South-West
• Responses to consultations, representing the views of members

Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF)

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a registered charity founded in 1976 to promote the conservation of historic buildings in the UK. It does this by providing advice, information and financial assistance in the form of development grants and large low-interest loans to charities and other not-for-profit organisations, for projects involving the sustainable new use of a building which is listed, scheduled or in a conservation area. 

The AHF plays a strong development role by providing relevant guidance throughout the duration of a project.  The AHF has a team of support officers based throughout the UK who will visit potential projects and new groups.  Several publications are available from the AHF and can be downloaded free unless otherwise indicated from www.ahfund.org.uk.

Areas of interest

• Advice
• Funding

Please note: the AHF cannot help private owners, commercial developers nor churches or other faith buildings that are still in use for worship.

Historic Buildings & Places

Historic Buildings & Places, previously known as the Ancient Monuments Society, works to sustain, defend and promote all aspects of the built historic environment, for the benefit of all. We have a particular interest in everyday heritage, hidden treasures and community favourites. Founded in 1924, we are one of the National Amenity Societies and we champion historic buildings and places of all ages and all types.

Areas of interest

• Commenting, as a mandatory consultee on applications for listed building consent, involving any degree of demolition, in England and Wales
• Advising on the addition of a presently unprotected building onto the National Heritage List as a listed building, especially where the fabric is multi-period
• Disseminating original research on many aspects of architectural history and conservation through our annual volume of Transactions
• Disseminating information on news and casework overviews from the Society, alongside features and news from the sector, through our triennial members’ magazine

Please note that Historic Buildings & Places does not offer grants or loans.

Historic England

Historic England looks after the historic environment, providing expert advice, helping people protect and care for it, and helping the public to understand and enjoy it.

Areas of interest

• Champions historic places
• Advises government on which parts of our heritage are nationally important so they may be protected by designation
• Advises local authorities on managing changes to the most important parts of our heritage
• Encourages investment in heritage at risk
• Shares knowledge, skills and expertise by offering training and guidance, giving practical conservation advice and access to our resources.

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)

The SPAB is the UK’s oldest building conservation body, founded by William Morris and others in 1877. 

It protects historic buildings through advice, training, awards and campaigning. Our specialism is repair and maintenance of the structural fabric and finishes of old buildings.  We publish guidance and run a free technical advice service on weekday mornings (020 7456 0916).  In its casework, the SPAB advises councils and others on threats to the fabric of old buildings (where the building dates from 1720 or before).   The Society also runs a range of courses and training programmes.

Areas of interest

Advice

• Care and repair of historic buildings (secular)
• Care and repair of historic  buildings (ecclesiastical)
• Energy efficiency and old buildings
• Listed building applications for demolition, alteration or addition (where the building dates from before 1720)
• Wind and watermill conservation

Please note that the SPAB cannot help with:

• Parks and gardens
• Archaeology
• Demolition or alteration threats to buildings of Georgian or later date
• New development where old buildings would not be physically altered
• Green belt and landscape issues
• Wind farms

Training & Education

• Courses for a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences
• Annual lecture series
• Scholarship and fellowship programme
• Bespoke courses for a range of clients
• Working party

Awards

• John Betjeman Award for repairs to place of worship
• Philip Webb Award for architectural students
• Esher Award
• Publications and Archive
• Books, technical pamphlets and information sheets
• Archive available to researchers by appointment

Grants

The SPAB is not generally a grant-making body but has a few small funds:

• Baber Fund for emergency work
• Misses Newcombe Fund for Almshouses
• Thomas Hardy Fund for buildings with a Hardy connection (particularly Dorset)

Gardens Trust

The Gardens Trust was formed by the merger of the Association of Gardens Trusts (AGT) and the Garden History Society (GHS) on Friday 24th July 2015.

Areas of interest

•To promote the study of the history of gardens and gardening, landscape gardening and horticulture in all its aspects

•To promote the protection and conservation of historic parks, gardens and designed landscapes and to promote and advise on their conservation.

•To promote County and Country Gardens Trusts and through them education, appreciation and involvement of the public in matters connected with the arts and sciences of garden land.

•To encourage the creation of new parks, gardens and designed landscapes.

Council for British Archaeology (CBA)

The Council for British Archaeology is the leading independent body for UK archaeology, bringing together professionals, volunteers and communities to open up archaeology for all.

Areas of interest

It has a particular interest in historic buildings as an important part of the material evidence for the study of past human behaviour.

The CBA’s primary concern with historic buildings lies not with aesthetics, or amenity considerations, but with the archaeological evidence contained in the fabric of the structure. The approach includes:

• an appreciation of the building as a totality,
• an assessment of the significance of the building within its neighbourhood and region,
• an ability to estimate the likelihood of evidence latent within the building or the site it occupies,
• an ability to recognise and draw attention to those buildings of complicated development which straddle the interests of several period societies and where the long evolution is itself of significance.

As well as advising on formal notifications through the listed building consent system we welcome informal contacts from owners, developers, architects, local groups or individuals.

The CBA uses a network of expert local correspondents, a specialist panel of advisors and professional staff to advise on how to minimise the impact of any development proposals, and on assessment and recording. We also make our casework available to all via an online database, accessible at http://www.cbacasework.org/.

More broadly, the CBA works across the UK to open up the UK’s rich heritage for all and safeguard it for future generations. We operate a Young Archaeologists’ Club for 8-16 year olds and work to involve people in archaeology, give everyone an opportunity to discover more about the archaeology of the UK, and champion the importance of the UK’s rich archaeological heritage.