Heritage Surgery

An accessible consultation service for organisations new to heritage or looking to explore their funding options

Are you an organisation looking to understand the funding landscape and exploring options for a grant-funded project? You might be:

Unsure where to start with heritage funding
Exploring ideas rather than working with a fixed project plan
New to heritage funding or returning after a gap
Looking for expert, jargon-free advice in a supportive environment

The Heritage Surgery is a supportive, accessible consultation designed for organisations at the early stages of exploring heritage funding. It's particularly suited to community groups, volunteer-led organisations, and charities who might be unsure whether their project is eligible, which funders to approach, or how to move forward with confidence.

The service provides a 90-minute, 1-1 consultation. During the session, we'll discuss your organisation, your heritage asset or activity, your ambitions, and any challenges you're facing. The focus is on helping you clarify your ideas, understand what funders are looking for, and explore realistic options tailored to your capacity and resources.

Following the consultation, I will send you a written summary that captures the key points we've discussed, including:

An overview of your project’s strengths and opportunities
Initial thoughts on eligibility and readiness for heritage funding
Clear, practical next steps to help you move forward

You'll also receive bespoke funding advice which highlights relevant heritage funding programmes and outlines what preparation may be needed before applying. The Heritage Surgery helps you to make informed decisions before committing significant time and resources.