Heritage emergency fund invests further in digital skills

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) is making a £50m Heritage Emergency Fund available for stabilising operations and managing unforeseen risks over the next 3-6 months. It is also investing a further £1.2m in digital skills to support digital fundraising, use of social media and communications, and running online events and activities.

The emergency funding will be diverted from planned new grants, with all new grant applications halted with immediate effect. For the 2,500 organisations where funding of £1.1bn is already committed, NLHF is being as flexible as possible to allow for delays or changes in the way projects are delivered, relaxing normal grant conditions and bringing forward payments if necessary.

The new arrangements are in response to a survey asking what support heritage organisations will need during the coronvirus crisis. Among more than 1250 heritage organisations 75% wanted ‘greater flexibility for existing projects/grants’ and 53% needed ‘emergency funding’. 82% of respondents reported a high or moderate risk to their organisation’s long-term viability; 35% said their financial reserves will be depleted within four months; and 46% of organisations can survive for no more than six months.