Our Grants Scheme

Please note as of the 1st April 2010, applications must be made online only, using our new entry form.  For application deadlines please view our terms and rules.

With the help of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, we are now able to give small grants to vessel owners to:

attend conferences, seminars, and workshops on historic ships

  • Eligible costs include fees, accommodation, travel and subsistence for any relevant UK or EU maritime related conference. Only one person per organisation can apply for each event and priority will be given to individuals and small organisations.
  • There is a maximum award of up to £350 or 50 per cent of the cost (which ever is the lesser).

develop skills by taking part in training courses and by working alongside traditional boat builders

  • Eligible costs include course fees, accommodation, travel, and subsistence costs.  As well as courses for developing skills in conservation, boat repair, boat-building, characteristics of materials etc, grants can be applied for to take up placements with yards or organisations undertaking best practice in these fields.  They can also be used where nominated contractors for vessel projects need to develop specific skills in order to ensure that their approach to undertaking a particular piece of work meets appropriate conservation standards.
  • There is a maximum award of £1,000 or 50 per cent (whichever is the lesser) of the costs.

ensure the long-term sustainability of historic vessels

Eligible activities include:

  • Conservation management planning
  • Business planning
  • Setting up a charitable trust to look after the vessel in the long term
  • Creating a permanent archive (costs of recording equipment, materials, archive storage etc)
  • Surveys
  • Remedial works demanding specialist and expensive materials
  • Emergency works to rescue a vessel from loss
  • Protective works (e.g. durable covers to protect vessels while remedial works are carried out)
  • Interpretation for public benefit (signs, published vessel histories, leaflets, books etc.)

Awards will normally be restricted to a maximum figure of £2,000 or 50% (whichever is the lesser) of the costs. It will be critical for the applicant to demonstrate how an award will deliver public benefits as well as supporting the vessel itself.

In order to apply for one of our small grants, please use our online grant application form