Afro Heritage Project – Community Grants Scheme
Application Guidance Notes for Applicants
Grant value: £1,000 (fixed amount)
Number of grants: Up to 10 awards (subject to budget and eligible applications)
Who can apply: Small voluntary/community organisations and informal groups (with an accountable lead) based in Leicester or Leicestershire
Purpose: Community-led activities that capture, share and preserve African diaspora heritage and contribute learning/outputs to the Afro Heritage Project
Deadline for Application: 09/03/2026
About the Community Grants Scheme
The Afro Heritage Project Community Grants Scheme supports small, community-led organisations and groups to deliver heritage activities that capture, share and preserve African diaspora heritage in Leicester and Leicestershire. Funded activity should strengthen local participation in heritage and generate material and learning that can be included (with permission) in the Afro Heritage Project.
Grant Amount and Number of Awards
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Grant value: £1,000 per award (fixed amount).
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Up to 10 grants will be awarded, subject to sufficient eligible applications and available budget.
Who Can Apply
You can apply if you are:
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A small voluntary or community organisation; or
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An informal community group (with a named accountable lead and a bank account to receive the grant).
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Based in Leicester or Leicestershire.
You cannot apply if you are:
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An individual applying in a personal capacity.
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A political organisation or proposing political activity.
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Proposing activity unrelated to heritage and community benefit.
What You Can Use the Grant For
Your activity must have a clear heritage focus and benefit the community. Examples include:
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Community heritage events or celebration days.
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Oral history recording and storytelling sessions.
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Cultural documentation (e.g., audio, photography, recipes, artefacts) with informed consent.
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Reminiscence sessions and intergenerational heritage activities.
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Community engagement linked to Afro Heritage Project themes (migration stories, settlement histories, community institutions, everyday heritage).
What We Mean by Heritage
For this scheme, heritage may include (but is not limited to):
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Migration journeys and settlement histories.
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Memories, family stories and community experiences.
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Music, faith practices, food traditions, language, clothing, crafts and cultural rituals.
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Photographs, objects, letters, records and community archives.
What Your Project Must Contribute
All funded projects must contribute something to the Afro Heritage Project, subject to consent and safeguarding. Outputs may include:
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Oral history recordings (audio/video) and/or written story summaries.
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Photographs or scans of items (where appropriate) and short descriptions.
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Short reflections on what helped people participate and what barriers remain.
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Feedback and learning that can inform inclusive heritage practice locally.
Budget Guidance
The grant is a fixed £1,000. Your budget should show how you will use the full amount on reasonable, eligible costs, such as:
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Venue hire, refreshments and materials.
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Local travel and outreach costs.
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Interpretation/translation and access support (e.g., BSL, childcare support where appropriate).
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Documentation costs (printing, memory cards, basic supplies).
We do not fund:
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General fundraising, political activity, or activities not connected to heritage.
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Costs that are not reasonable or not linked to the proposed activity.
Safeguarding, Consent and Data Protection
If your activity involves children, young people, or vulnerable adults, or you are collecting personal stories, you must work safely and responsibly. All grant holders must follow safeguarding good practice and obtain informed consent before collecting stories, photos, audio or video. Personal data must be handled in line with current Data Protection legislation.
Acknowledgement and Use of Outputs
Successful applicants must acknowledge the Afro Heritage Project in publicity relating to the funded activity. Where consent allows, heritage outputs may be shared through Afro Heritage Project channels with appropriate credit. Any agreed sharing or licensing arrangements will be confirmed during onboarding.
How to Apply
Complete the application form and include:
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A short description of your activity and its heritage focus.
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Who will be involved and how you will ensure inclusive participation.
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Where and when the activity will happen.
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A simple budget showing how you will spend the £1,000.
Assessment and Decision-Making
Applications will be assessed against published criteria, including:
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Clear heritage focus and relevance to African diaspora heritage in Leicester/Leicestershire. Community benefit and inclusion (including accessibility).
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Feasibility and value for money.
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Contribution to Afro Heritage Project learning and outputs.
Decisions will be made by a Community Grants Panel. Conflicts of interest will be declared and managed in line with the scheme governance.
What Happens if You Are Successful
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You will receive a short grant agreement setting out the approved activity and requirements.
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Grant payment will be made in line with the scheme process (may be staged where appropriate).
Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring is light-touch and proportionate. You will be asked to provide:
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A short end-of-grant report/reflection.
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Participation numbers and who took part.
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Agreed photos/audio/outputs (with consent) and key learning.
Support for Applicants
We want the scheme to be accessible, including to first-time applicants. Support may include an information session, drop-ins, or short 1:1 guidance for applicants who need it.