Applications Open: Small Projects Grant Funding Round

A fast-track bidding round is opening for grants to be used for heritage skills training projects at Commonwealth heritage sites at risk. Our Mission The Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF) is a UK registered charity which enables the sharing of expertise, research and best practice in building conservation. One of our major objectives is to help people from communities with educational and economic disadvantages find creative solutions for heritage at risk, sustainable regeneration, skills development, education and youth training across the Commonwealth, the UK overseas territories and the wider Anglosphere. In April 2022, Her Majesty’s Government granted the CHF the unique right to preface the name of our Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme with the appellation ‘Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee’. The Programme was launched on 19 May 2022 at Marlborough House by Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Funded by the Vinehill Trust, under the terms of the Commonwealth Coronation Agreement, signed in June 2023, the CHF manages the £12.26 million Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme. The programme supports the training of people in all aspects of heritage conservation and craft-related skills. The aim is to enable them to save the heritage of all periods that they value and support the role of conservation in sustainable development. Projects In addition to our other activities, we are committed to implementing practical projects for trainees at up to twenty Commonwealth heritage sites at risk. A key objective is to establish regional training hubs in the Caribbean, Africa and the Indian sub-continent alongside practical manual training projects in a wide range of Commonwealth countries. The programme is open to all eligible countries, but we particularly welcome applications from Central and Southern Africa, the Pacific and UK Overseas Territories. Where professional consultants or practices are appointed to carry out research, analysis, specialist training workshops or site-based projects, the appointment will usually be tendered to appropriately qualified practices, organisations and individuals to ensure best value for money. Eligible works include the provision of matching materials, physical works to safeguard integrity and status and the repair or restoration of historic fabric that facilitates heritage skills training. Items include stonework, brickwork, tiles, slates and shingles, thatching, lime mortar, plasters and renders, stucco, ironwork, traditional carpentry and joinery, woodcarving, frescoes and murals, stained glass, encaustic tiles, terracotta, earth buildings and mortars. We will consider: essential works to historic buildings, monuments and structures at risk area-based strategies for historic places at risk, including heritage trails We will not consider: intangible shared heritage running costs routine repair and maintenance costs heritage crafts unconnected to the physical repair of buildings and structures buildings in private ownership where there is no public access new buildings, extensions, services or internal facilities (e.g. electrical works, and plumbing). On-site projects and costs will be made on the basis of actual rather than indicative costs (i.e. if spend turns out to be less than is budgeted, payments will cover the actual rather than the budgeted figure). Detailed invoices will be required prior to payments being made. Funding will not be increased to accommodate overspend or any extra elements that are added to the project once it has started. International funding transfers can be subject to extensive time-consuming checks and balances to minimise the risk of fraud and money laundering. Applicants are advised to anticipate this, plan ahead accordingly and ensure that invoices, bank details and relevant codes should be checked for strict accuracy to reduce the risk of delays. Where necessary, we will make an early advance payment to proven partners to ensure that cash flow is maintained throughout the project. Consultancy fees for the management of any project will normally be on a fixed fee basis and should be set out within the initial grant submission. They should usually be no greater than 10% of the total project costs. Training Our various training programmes are set out below. A key qualifying criterion is that trainees should be drawn from communities with educational and economic disadvantages to offer a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills which they might otherwise be unable to access. Our support is flexible and can be tailored to meet local needs and circumstances. Options include: training schools and courses in the UK and overseas for eligible students expert classroom and site-based training workshops in host countries led by UK or Commonwealth master trainers funding Heritage Champions and internships to support local initiatives at recognised overseas heritage agencies and institutions Where traineeships or other positions funded under this Programme are remunerated in any form, pay or stipends will reflect local rates. Applications Submissions are invited from reliable local partners with a demonstrable track record of managing and delivering heritage projects and / or supervising heritage skills training for local people. Applications in partnership with established technical and vocational training schools and colleges are particularly welcome. Applicants will normally be expected to provide a minimum of 10% match-funding of total project costs. How To Apply Applicants should have pre-application discussions with Sarah Neville, our Project Development consultant or Victoria Hellewell, our Training & Skills consultant via View email address on click.appcast.io at the earliest stage to help guide their submission using our Project Proposal Form. This can be downloaded via our website : Applicants should provide full information on all relevant aspects of the proposal including details of partners and other funding sources, the project scope, the related training programme, photographs and drawings, schedules of component costs and suggested staged payment arrangements. It should explain clearly how, and by whom, the building or structure will be managed and maintained following completion of the works, including anticipated future running and revenue costs. Further discussions may then ensue to clarify any outstanding issues. Normally applicants will be advised in writing within 28 days of the final submission date whether they have been successful or not. Once approved, the applicant will need to sign a contract or Memorandum of Understanding with the CHF. This will set out the detailed terms and conditions under which the funding is offered. Submissions will be assessed regularly by the consultant team and, where necessary or appropriate, with advice from a Steering Group of selected Trustees and members of our International Advisory Committee. Successful applicants will be responsible for ensuring that all participants are fully briefed on mandatory Health and Safety requirements and to confirm that all necessary measures are put in place on site. They will also be required to demonstrate that adequate insurance is in place to cover all anticipated risks for the duration of the programme. In addition, they will need to: meet due diligence checks and requirements and provide references for their previous work. take full responsibility for the management and implementation of the project in line with international conservation best practice, including health and safety. nominate a project manager to provide regular updates of progress to the CHF consultant team. provide verified invoices for all expenditure relating to the project at agreed key stages for retrospective payment. submit details of the related training programme, including the trainers and their experience and qualifications, the number of trainees envisaged, their parent institutions or employers, and in which specific skills they would be trained. all written reports, published material and other public information shall include the branding of both the CHF and The Vinehill Trust. Deadline for Applications Applications for this round of small projects grants will close on Tuesday 14th July #J-18808-Ljbffr