These training bursaries offer financial assistance (up to £4,000) to individuals who want to start or further develop their skills in a heritage craft but are prevented from doing so due to cost. The aim is to support new entrants and early-career practitioners in the heritage crafts sector.

Bursaries are generally aimed at:

• New entrants who are committed to starting a new craft career and need to acquire essential hand skills.
• Early-career practitioners (in the first five years of their professional practice) who have not yet attained the hand skills required for commercial success.
• Early or mid-career craftspeople who need to acquire distinctly different hand skills to develop new ways of achieving commercial success.

Heritage Crafts understands that commercial success looks different for everyone. There is no expectation that you must earn a full-time income from your craft to be eligible for a training bursary. Instead, our bursary assessment process is designed to identify makers who have the baseline passion but lack the highly specialised hand skills needed to make their practice financially viable, stable, or self-sustaining on their own terms.

Heritage Crafts explicitly structures its application process to welcome applicants who face systemic or personal barriers, including disabled, neurodivergent, or chronically ill makers.

If you are on benefits (such as Universal Credit, ESA, or PIP) and have legal caps on your working hours or income, commercial success means viability within your parameters. It could look like:

• Generating a small, steady supplemental income that safely fits within your permitted work limits.

• Establishing a sustainable part-time or micro-business practice that respects your health and energy limits.

• Supporting a long term aim to transition into work and away from benefits.

The application form explicitly asks about your employment status (including options for “unemployed – benefits”) and provides space to explain the specific barriers you face. The panel evaluates your commitment to the craft and how much the funding will transform your individual practice, not how many hours you intend to log at a workbench.

We open applications for training bursaries twice a year.

Once in early spring (approx. January-March) – this is a craft-specific round, and again in early summer (approx. March-June) – which is usually open-to-all heritage craft forms.

Application deadlines vary. It is crucial to check the Heritage Crafts training bursary page for the most up-to-date information on application opening and closing dates.

A heritage craft is generally defined as any craft that has been practiced for two or more generations, and which requires a high level of manual dexterity, specialised knowledge, and traditional hand skills to produce objects or carry out processes.

Please look at our Craft Inventory for more information on the heritage crafts we support and if you are not sure if your craft is included, please do get in touch to ask.

Yes, in addition to general bursaries, Heritage Crafts often offers ring-fenced bursaries for specific groups or areas, such as:

• Specific craft categories (e.g. fashion and costume making, shoemaking, stained glass).
• Black and ethnically diverse trainees
• British military veterans and ex-military personnel. 

These ring-fenced categories may only relate to certain bursaries and not necessarily all and is dependent on the funding we secure. More details on the main training bursary page.

Applicants are automatically considered for all categories for which they qualify.

Our funding offer is of a limited supply, and therefore we don’t accept repeat applications from previous recipients for the same/similar skills development unless in exceptional circumstances. However, we are happy to support our past recipients by signposting to other funders or helping to developing their plans. In which case please email Rae: [email protected]

Bursaries can cover or contribute towards the costs of either, or a mix of:

• Apprenticeship-style training with a craftsperson/people.
• Attending specialist training courses (accredited or non-accredited).
• Undertaking a self-directed program of training with one or more craftspeople.

The actual training must make up at least 70% of your training budget.

The following types of expenditure can make up the remaining 30%:

• The cost of specialist tools or materials, books, or study materials.
• Supporting travel and accommodation.

Our training bursaries cannot be used for:

• General living expenses.
• Research.
• Promotional activities.
• Exhibitions.
• Anything else not directly related to the acquisition of hand skills for the craft.

You can apply for any amount up to £4,000. Applicants who apply for less than the maximum amount will not receive prefential treatment, and so should apply for what they need (up to £4,000) to maximize the impact on their skill development. 

Application form: Applications are typically made by completing an online application form available on the Heritage Crafts website during the application timeframe.

Video or Audio Applications: Alternatively, you are welcome to submit a video or audio application, addressing all the questions in the form. You can download the questions here: Application Questions – The recording ideally needs to be no more than 15 minutes in length. Then email it to Rae here: [email protected] Please see the specific Q&A below for more information.

Postal Applications: We can accept applications by post. Please see the specific Q&A below for more information.

Please check the bursaries page to see when we are open/ close for applications.

If none of these methods work for you, please let us know how you might prefer to apply.

Yes! You can submit your application as a video or audio recording if this works better for you. You might prefer this if you find writing difficult, use British Sign Language (BSL), or find it easier to explain your ideas by speaking.

Make sure to prepare well in advance of the deadline

Your recording should answer all the questions in the application form and should be no longer than 15 minutes.

Don’t worry about making it fancy. We are interested in your answers, not your recording skills. Just make sure we can see or hear you clearly.

For helpful tips, see The Workroom’s practical guide to making video or audio applications.

How do I send my recording?

Email your recording to Rae at [email protected]. If the file is too large to email, you can share it using Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive or a similar file-sharing service. If you need an alternative, WeTransfer is another option.

Please make sure your recording is only accessible to the people you share it with, rather than publicly available. If you use a file-sharing service, check that Rae can access it.

Please email Rae to confirm you’ve sent your application, so we can make sure we have received it.

Postal Applications: We can accept applications by post. All questions will need to be addressed – You can download the questions here: Application Questions

We request that you take photos of your written application prior to posting. (This is to ensure there is a copy should your form be lost in the post).

It is essential to post your application form well in advance of the deadline to ensure the application is counted.

We would need you to inform us how you wish to receive our response (ie. by email or phone).

Please note, if successful in an application, we conduct interviews and agreement calls either over a video call (Zoom) or phone call.

Postal applications can be sent to: Bursary Submission, Heritage Crafts, 81 North Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8NA.

You will be asked to provide details about:

• Your personal information (name, contact details).
• Your current financial situation (including ticking boxes to indicate your rough annual earned income, other income and household income).
• Your proposed training plan, including how the bursary will help you overcome financial and other barriers.
• The heritage craft you wish to pursue or develop.
• Contact details for a referee (e.g., from a craft organisation, a previous trainer/teacher, but not a family member or your intended trainer).
• Photographs of any work you have already produced.
• If you have applied to Heritage Crafts previously.
• Whether you are a Heritage Crafts member (though this is not a requirement).

We understand that courses can get booked up, and it’s hard to foresee whether you will secure a place in time.

Therefore we’d encourage you to contact your proposed training provider and let them know you’re keen and in the process of applying for a training bursary.

Please indicate possible changes within the Training Details section. You can always list a Plan B scenario if there are limited places. 

We do still require all fields in the application form to be completed – including training provider as requested, even if it possible that this might change.

You cannot start the training before our decision making date (which is typically 9-12 weeks after the deadline). Your proposed training must typically start within the next 12 months of the grant being funded. We cannot fund training that has already started.

No, you don’t have to be a member to apply, although we always welcome new members. We have a range of affordable options available – all with excellent perks that you’ll love, including being welcomed into an amazing community of makers, as well as some interesting Members Only resources too.

Check out our membership options here: Join Us

• Prepare in advance: 
  • We would encourage you to take a read the questions in advance and have all answers saved in a document prior to applying. Its always best to carve out plenty of time before the deadline, to ensure that unforeseen issues don’t get in the way of submitting your application.
• Clear focus or project:
  • Have a really clear focus in your project plan. Fundamentally, we need clarity on what you are applying for.
• Be specific:
  • Keep your answers to the point. The shortlisting panel will have hundreds of applications to read – what will make yours stand out? We only know what we read from within your application, so don’t make any assumptions that we will know what you’re referring to.
• Tell us a story:
  • We are really interested in the type of training you want to do, and why this works for you.
  • Also, think about what your biggest challenge is at the moment?
  • How might this funding help you overcome that?
  • Pitch us your passion – tell us why you love your craft?
    
• Is now the right time?: 
  • Timing is really important – life can be busy. Consider whether you have capacity.
  • If you are not in a position now to dedicate to a project or a program of training, then it’s ok not to apply now – and consider applying later.
  • Do make sure to consider this and make it clear in your application.
• Consider sustainability:
  • By this we mean that notion of your commitment to this craft practice. We want to see your passion behind it, and how you want to sustain your practice and commit it to your future.

Watch a recording of our last live Q&A session where you can pick up on more helpful tips: Grants, Awards & Bursaries Q&A

Yes, you will need to have a firm idea of the training that you need in order to achieve your outcomes including contact details for each. A well planned application is more likely to be successful.

However, if you are new to a craft and struggling to find a trainer, Heritage Crafts may be able to offer assistance, but please get in touch well before the deadline. 

The training provider contact details we require will include their name, organisation/ business name, email address and phone number. Please refer to the questions for a full summary here: Questions for reference

For those based in Northern Ireland, we will fund training elsewhere in the UK as well as training in the Republic of Ireland.

We say if the skills you need are available in the UK then we are unlikely to fund overseas travel. However, if you can prove that the training is only available overseas, then we would consider funding it.

Note, that up to 30% of your grant budget can be allocated to support costs such as travel, accommodation, specialist tools or materials, books or study materials.

All applications are assessed by a diverse panel comprising Heritage Crafts staff, trustees, experienced makers, and external craft experts.

This panel rigorously evaluates each application against set criteria to ensure fairness and transparency in the selection process.

Shortlisted candidates are typically invited for an interview via Zoom.

We do not use AI to assess or judge your application.

No, the assessment is not about judging your writing skills, spelling or grammar. 

Whether you submit a written application or a video, the most important thing is to clearly and comprehensively communicate what you want to do, why you want to do it, and how the bursary will enable your training and development. 

Focus on articulating your passion, your plan, and the impact the bursary will have.

Yes, you can use generative AI to help you develop ideas, organise your thoughts or improve your answers. However, we want to hear from YOU. Your application is an opportunity to tell us about your passion for your craft, your training plans and what you hope to achieve.

AI-generated text can sometimes sound generic or lack the personal details that help us understand your individual journey. It can also provide inaccurate information, including suggesting trainers or training opportunities that do not exist. If you use AI, make sure you check any information it provides and that your answers reflect your own experiences, ideas and ambitions.

There is no upper age limit for our funding opportunities.

If applications are made for under 16s, then we would need the parent or guardian to sign the declaration.

Applications undergo assessment, shortlisting, and final selection by the Heritage Crafts judging team. Interviews are typically conducted via Zoom for shortlisted candidates.

Successful applicants will go on to receive support from the Heritage Crafts team to develop an action plan and monitor progress.

We tend to take approximately 9-12 weeks to undergo this whole process from the deadline.

You cannot manually amend your application after it has been submitted. If you need to make changes, please get in touch and we will send over a copy of your application for you to amend: [email protected]

Yes, you can Save and return to its by following the instructions in the application form. 

However we strongly recommend that you draft your application in a separate document and then cut and paste your answers into the form when you are ready to submit. 

Download a copy of the questions here

Yes, you can download a copy of the questions here

Your proposed training must typically start within the next 12 months of grant being funded. Training can run over the course of a year to demonstrate learning and impact.

(This is unless a ring-fenced bursary has defined other timeframes, which will be  made clear when you apply ie. the craft specific bursary for Building Crafts in Northern Ireland).

Unfortunately we cannot fund in retrospect for courses that have already started. Unless of course you are applying for a second or third year. 

Training cannot have yet begun when applying for a bursary. Nor can it be completed before our decision making date (which is typically 9-12 weeks after the deadline).

This is because we are unable to fund retrospectively. Unless of course you are applying for a second or third year.

You are permitted to apply for more than one course or training opportunity within a single bursary application, provided it aligns with your overall skill development plan.

Training could look like:

• apprenticeship-style training with a craftsperson/people;
• attending a specialist training course (accredited or non-accredited);
• undertaking a self-directed programme of training with one or more craftspeople;

We will need you to explain why you have chosen what you have, and how each course of training may develop or differ.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, you can email Rae who will be happy to offer guidance: [email protected] 

Application deadlines vary, and new rounds open periodically throughout the year.

It is crucial to check the Heritage Crafts training bursary page on the website for the most up-to-date information on application opening and closing dates. These are accurate once we have opened applications. 

Please be aware that these bursaries are highly competitive. We typically receive a very large number of applications for a limited number of awards. While we wish we could support every deserving applicant, this is simply not possible due to funding limitations. We encourage all eligible individuals to apply, but please understand that success is not guaranteed. 

If your application is unsuccessful, you can reapply in future rounds. We encourage you to review your application, consider any feedback you may have requested, and refine your proposal for subsequent submissions. 

Please bear in mind that each new application is assessed independently by a panel of craft experts, so while addressing any previous feedback is certainly beneficial, it doesn’t guarantee success in subsequent rounds.

Our funding opportunities are focused on preserving traditional hand skills within the British Isles, and therefore applicants must be based in the UK and intend to continue practicing their craft in the UK. 

We are sorry if this means you are not eligible to apply.

Residents of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are eligible to apply.

We will require you to upload up to four good quality images, to support your application. 

Please clearly label the images or documents with your full name and numbered 1 to 5 (ie. JoeBloggs1.jpg) – this is helpful to us.

These images should include:

• At least one of you making/ taking part in your craft, and/or different examples of craft you have already made. (If you are a new entrant, then you can share images of other work that demonstrates your hand skills).
• Please provide these images as .jpeg files (no larger than 10Mb per image.)
• You can also upload PDF, spreadsheets or other supporting documents as needed.

The images you provide are a way of portraying you as a maker and your work to us, and therefore it is important to share with us images that are relevant to your application. 

If you have any difficulties uploading your images, you can send them to [email protected] (you may need to use a free file transfer service such as WeTransfer).

The courses we look to fund through our training bursaries can in-person tuition or online courses or a combination of the above, though in-person is preferable as the experience is likely to be richer. 

Yes we do. In any case of concerns or queries raised about the safeguarding or the Safeguarding Policy for either trainees or trainers, then please contact Mary who is our Safeguarding Lead by email on: [email protected]