Derbyshire Makes Heritage Grant

Derbyshire Makes History is set up to complement the wider three-year Derbyshire Makes programme, with an exclusive heritage focus, which is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to champion and support the heritage sector.

Derbyshire's heritage of makers and innovators has shaped its landscape and communities. Our primary focus will be Derbyshire's industrial heritage of making and we'll explore and celebrate three key industries: textiles and knitting, ceramics, and mining (lead, iron ore, coal).

About the Heritage Grant and aims

Heritage grants are available to Derbyshire-based heritage businesses, museums and community groups, to fund engagement activities, which will:

- engage local communities in making-focussed heritage activities

- tell the stories of Derbyshire's industrial heritage of making

- raise awareness in heritage craft skills and offer opportunities to engage

- celebrate and continue to upskill the heritage craft and construction skills of staff and volunteers

- contribute to the Heritage Fund investment principles:

                    - saving heritage

                    - protecting the environment

                    - inclusion, access and participation

                    - organisational sustainability

Activities can take place anywhere, but we are especially keen to fund activities taking place in or around the 6 main hub towns for the festival period April to May 2026 and 2027 in Bolsover, Chesterfield, Cromford (Hub and Spoke - Matlock and Wirksworth), Glossop, Heanor and Swadlincote.

How much could you receive?

Grants of £300 to £2,000 are available.

No match funding is required.

Grants will be assessed for eligibility then assessed by a panel of industry specialists.

Applications

All applicants must apply online.

You can apply at any time but please ensure you submit your applications in plenty of time before your planned activity as we cannot award funds retrospectively.

Applications will be assessed via a panel. We have set the following deadline dates:

1 September 2025

1 November 2025

1 June 2026

1 September 2026

1 November 2026

The fund will be administered by Derbyshire County Council and they will notify you of their decision within 6 weeks of these deadline dates.