Derry City & Strabane District Council: Heritage Animation / Visitor Servicing Programme

Overview

General Principles

• This is a competitive programme and applications will be determined on the basis of merit.
• Applications to this programme will be open to all heritage venues that can meet the core criteria of the programme. Applicants will be able to apply to other sources of public support.
• A threshold score of 50% must be reached in order to be eligible.
• The funds are awarded in order of merit, working from the top score downwards, until the allocation of funds is exhausted
• It is a prime responsibility of Council to ensure the proper and efficient use of and the accountability of public monies. To this end, heritage venues will be required to provide relevant supporting information when applying for funding.
• The organisation completing the form must be the same organisation that will receive and manage the grant. They will not consider an application made by one organisation on behalf of another.
• The deadline for submission detailed on the application form is absolute. Council will not accept late submissions to this fund.
  You must also complete and provide all reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements as required including audience returns based on a standardised sectoral methodology as defined by the NW Audience Development Programme.

Who can apply for funding?

The following section outlines the eligibility criteria for the Heritage Animation & Visitor Servicing Programme. Your organisation must meet all of the following criteria in order to be eligible for this fund.

Your organisation must:

• Have a board or management committee.
• Be a legally constituted group and supply evidence of this (e.g. constitution or memorandum and articles of association).
• Be a not-for-profit organisation.

How does the fund work?

• There is one round of funding for financial year 2025/26
• You can apply for any amount up to a maximum of £17,000 (this maximum will include any grant aid already secured under the Cultural Organisations Fund (25/26)
• Only one successful application (regardless of amount) can be held by any organisation in the 2025/2026 financial year.
• The fund will cover visitor focused heritage animation / cultural programming (including events, performances, enactments, workshops etc.) to bring your venue to life and/or Visitor Servicing including seasonal tour guides, front line staff training, marketing material and campaigns ( not to include local advertising) and/or Core Costs to a maximum value of 8% of the eligible Grand Total Award (The core costs deemed eligible under this fund do not include hospitality, refreshments, toilet services, alcohol, repayments of debts, retrospective grants or capital build expenditure).
• Expenditure must be identified across both strands - Visitors Servicing and Heritage Animation/Programming.
• Please note if you are awarded core costs in the Cultural Organisation Fund they will not be awarded in this grant aid.