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Funding (of contributing projects)
The National Archives meets the costs of the Access to Archives central team and the database infrastructure. Those planning projects to provide catalogue content for the A2A database must find the funding to meet the additional costs involved in that process: from existing resources, or through applications to other funding bodies, typically the Heritage Lottery Fund
(HLF).
The HLF, one of the good causes of the National Lottery, exists to support the UK heritage for the benefit of the UK public; it is the most significant funding body for the UK archives domain and has previously funded the substantial number of Access to Archives projects. Its strategic priorities are:
- Conserving and enhancing our diverse heritage
- Encouraging communities to identify, look after and celebrate their heritage
- Increase opportunities for learning about heritage
- Open up heritage resources and sites to the widest possible audiences
The Archives 4 All programme clearly meets these strategic priorities and organisations seeking HLF funding must address these priorities in their individual projects.
The HLF looks to applicants to contribute a contribution to the cost of any project. For projects seeking grants under £50,000 this is not a fixed percentage, but HLF will expect organisations applying to provide some cash and/or in-kind contribution, either from their own resources or from elsewhere. For projects seeking over £50,000 there is a fixed percentage contribution which starts at 10% of total project costs and rises for projects seeking grants of more than £1million.
The National Archives and the A2A central team cannot provide partnership funding. For projects seeking evidence of support we have calculated a figure which could act both as an in-kind contribution from A2A/Archives 4 All, and also as project outlay for A2A services provided. It can be entered on both sides of the balance sheet, and so in effect it cancels itself out. It can be helpful if you are looking for support for a bid, but funders have been willingly accepted projects without it.
- central contribution (PDF, 45.19kb)
Those applying to HLF for funding might like to note the following points:
- Money from the HLF is not guaranteed for A2A projects. Although the HLF is favourable to the A2A programme, each application for funding must stand on its own merits.
- Applicants under the Archives 4 All programme, who are either currently delivering HLF-funded projects, or are working on applications to HLF for other projects, will be expected to demonstrate how this project (and any others) fit into their ongoing work plan.
- Applicants who have received HLF funding before are not precluded from applying again, however HLF are committed to distributing their funding as widely as possible. Therefore partnership projects might wish to factor this into considering the most appropriate lead partner for the application.
For more information about applying for lottery funding see the National Council on Archives website ( http://www.ncaonline.org.uk/) or contact the National Council on Archives´ Archive Lottery Adviser, Louise Ray on +44 (0) 20 8392 5347 or Email: louise.ray@nationalarchives.org.uk
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