Organisational Support Fund

1 Overview

Please note that we are no longer accepting new applications under this programme.

As part of the HES Grants Refresh, the Organisational Support Fund will be replaced by a new Partnership Fund in summer 2022. More information will be published on our website in advance of the programme launch, and existing Organisational Support Fund grantees will be contacted to discuss the future application process. For the latest updates, please visit our Grants Refresh page.

Overview

Providing financial support to organisations responsible for the operation, management or safeguarding of historic environment assets is a vital part of our wider efforts to safeguard Scotland’s historic environment and promote its understanding and enjoyment.

The Organisational Support Fund can provide financial support to organisations responsible for the operation, management or safeguarding of historic environment assets to assist in the delivery of defined projects/activities and/or to provide resilience funding.

Project/Activity Funding (former Voluntary Sector Fund)

Grant funding to carry out specific projects/activities that help to deliver HES’s grant outcomes.

Resilience Funding

Grant funding for organisations experiencing financial or organisational difficulties. Examples of the challenges that this funding could assist in addressing include:

Closing short term financial deficits;
Property, plant or equipment required to ensure that public access or engagement with the historic environment can continue in the long-term;
Equipment required to pursue identified and quantified business development opportunities; and
Addressing organisational capacity issues to respond to existing challenges or new opportunities.

Resilience funding is time limited and we would expect grantees to address the underlying issues that created the need for resilience funding. As with the Project/Activity funding, we would also expect it to relate to HES’s grant outcomes.

2 Eligibility

Organisations responsible for the operation, management or safeguarding of historic environment assets are eligible to apply for this funding.

3 Criteria for awarding grants

We assess organisational support funding applications against Historic Environment Scotland’s grant outcomes.

We must receive all applications for funding assistance by 31 August each year.

We will notify applicants of our decision informally by 31 December. Formal offers of grants will follow.

4 How to apply

Please note that we are no longer accepting new applications under this programme.

Expressions of Interest

If you are interested in applying for a grant from HES, you will need to submit an expression of interest first to receive feedback on your proposal. You can submit an expression of interest form at any time, and we aim to respond within 10 working days. We recommend you do not start work on your application form until you’ve received a response to your expression of interest.

Submit expression of interest

Applications

We accept applications for the Organisational Support Fund throughout the year, however, these are considered in one batch with closing date of 31 August.

Application is through our Grants Online Application System. New users must register to use the system.

Apply online now

Historic Environment Scotland is bound by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act. This means that any information that you send us or which is provided to help process your application may be made publicly available. However, any sensitive information you give us will be covered by the relevant legislation and will be dealt with accordingly.

5 Contact

You can contact us with your questions about the Organisational Support Fund.

Email: grants@hes.scot

Grants Team
Historic Environment Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Edinburgh
EH9 1SH