We've made it clearer how our grants could support your heritage

Image

Since 1980, the Memorial Fund has served as a fund of last resort to save the UK's most outstanding heritage and make it publicly accessible, in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK.

We’ve updated our grant application materials to better reflect this purpose.

Last resort

As a fund of last resort, we safeguard heritage when no alternatives are available.

We help save heritage on the brink of being lost and provide essential funding when others can’t. From The Staffordshire Hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure to the 18th-century Sanday Shipwreck, our grants can fill funding gaps and provide support at short notice when time is of the essence.

Image

Outstanding heritage

We want to help protect outstanding objects, collections, buildings and land that are rare, high-quality and/or associated with a historic figure or event.

We invest in heritage that's valuable for its archaeological, architectural, scientific, technological, natural, artistic, cultural and/or historic importance.  

Some of these have included the world’s first polar research ship, a one-of-a-kind royal figurine, one of England’s last complete Victorian estates and a masterpiece by one of the UK’s greatest artists.

Image

Publicly accessible

Together, the heritage we support forms a memorial collection in honour of those who have given their lives for the UK. It’s important that this collection remains accessible for everyone  to enjoy.

Our funding has helped bring precious heritage, including unseen manuscripts by the UK’s most renowned authors and rarely exhibited artworks, out of private ownership and onto permanent public display.

Explore our new application guidance to find out more about what we fund.