Small Grants Programme

The British Association for Local History (BALH) Small Grants Programme has been designed to support the study, enjoyment and dissemination of local history within Britain.

Who we will fund

We encourage applications for up to £500 from not-for-profit groups and organisations. We regret that individuals are not eligible to apply. You do not need to be a member of BALH to apply.

What we will fund

The aim of the fund is broad in terms of supporting the study, enjoyment and dissemination of local history. We are happy to consider applications which fund a project in its entirety, or to contribute towards larger projects.

We are open to a wide range of methods and outputs to achieve the aims of the programme. These could include, but are not limited to:

Publications – printed and digital
Exhibitions
Events
Walks
Podcasts
Research
School and other educational projects
Training and development

The application process

The application form can be downloaded below. We prefer to hear about your project through your own voice so please avoid using AI if possible. Completed applications should be e-mailed to Victoria Northwood, BALH Projects Manager at outreach@balh.org.uk by 5pm on Friday 9 October.

Each application received by the deadline will be assessed by a grant panel made up of BALH Trustees and Committee members. The panel will assess applications based on the following criteria:

Scope - the project will relate to local history within Britain.
Deliverability - the project has been clearly thought through, with a realistic timescale and budget.
Quality of the idea - the project will add something new and of interest to the field of local history.
Community benefit - the project represents value for money in terms of delivery and reach.
Study - people will learn something new about local history either in general or in relation to a particular area or areas.
Enjoyment - the learning will be communicated to the public in an engaging way.
Dissemination - a broad range of channels will be used to share information about the project and learning from it, making full use of the opportunities offered by BALH.

All applicants will be notified of the result within 4 weeks of the deadline.

Successful applicants will be asked to complete a simple grant agreement, which will include a payment schedule (typically 50% upfront, 50% on completion).

Evaluation

All successful applicants will be required to provide a report on their project within 4 weeks of completion. This will be shared publicly on our web-site and in Local History News. We encourage active engagement with BALH digital communication methods to promote funded projects – this could be via social media, blogs, podcasts, or our 10 minute talks.

Download application form here