Grants

The Committee's policy is to support publications or projects within the Charity's objects which are unlikely to proceed without the Charity's assistance. Where a publication or project is likely to recover its costs or show a profit, the Charity will normally offer an interest-free loan. 

How to Apply

There is no application form. Applicants for grants or loans are invited to apply in writing, at any time, providing  information on as many of the following points as are applicable in their case: (Although most projects supported are publications and the following points reflect this, other projects falling within the objects of the Trust may be assisted)

  • ​An outline of the project explaining how it falls within the Trust’s objects which are: the promotion or encouragement of education in history or the arts primarily but not exclusively in so far as such subjects are associated with the City of York.

  • The format of the publication, eg A4, A5, soft/hardback, number of pages, number of illustrations, print run and how the publication is to be marketed.

  • A sample of content.

  • A basic business plan setting out expected costs and anticipated income. Copies of printers’ estimates should be included if available.

  • Details of any other grant applications being made.

  • The timing of the project and when payment of any grant is likely to be required.

If financial assistance is provided, it is a standard requirement for this to be properly acknowledged in the publication, and for a copy of the publication to be donated to the Trust. The Trust’s annual income is in the region of £3,000 and as a general rule grants are unlikely to exceed £500. Where a project is expected to make a profit, The Trust may make an interest free loan of up to £1,000 repayable once the costs of the project have been recovered.

Applications should be made to:

The Honorary Secretary, 60 Usher Lane, Haxby, YORK YO32 3LA

Applications by email are an advantage since this makes it easier to circulate the information to members of the Committee. Please enquire via our Contact Form. The Trust Committee normally meets in March and October to consider grant applications. In urgent cases it may be possible to make grants limited to £250 between meetings.


Recent Grant Applications

In 2022 we offered support to:

  • Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society towards Volume 37 of York Historian.

In 2021 we offered support to:

  • Corpus Vitrearum to provide in situ photography, editorial and design work to produce camera ready copy for a catalogue of mediaeval stained glass in West Yorkshire, much of which had been made in York. This will be published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Academy.

  • York Oral History Society to input recordings and transcripts of over 200 interviews received from York Archaeological Trust relating to excavations undertaken by the Trust.

In 2020 we offered support to:

  • The National Centre for Early Music for a project to involve school children in appreciating a newly commissioned piece of music combining early musical instruments and computers celebrating Askham Bog leading to a Discover Arts Award for up to 50 children aged 8 to 11. Unfortunately this project was cancelled because of the covid pandemic lockdown.

  • Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society towards Volumes 35 and 36 of York Historian.

In 2019 we offered support to:

  • York Archaeological Trust towards the creation and operation of a photographic exhibition of archaeological investigations in the Micklegate and Rougier Street area to generate interest in the proposed Rougier Street archaeological dig which it is hoped will eventually lead to the establishment of a Roman Museum with a similar impact to the JORVIK Viking Centre.

  • The Yorkshire Philosophical Society towards a display of the earliest photographs ever taken in York.

In 2018 we offered support to:

  • The Sessions Book Trust towards the publication of a book entitled Great Lives comprising brief biographies of prominent former pupils of Bootham School.

  • Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society towards Volume 34 of York Historian.

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In 2017 we offered support to:

  • Fishergate, Fulford and Heslington Local History Society towards publication of the results of an archaeological investigation into the 12th-Century Church of St. Oswald before its conversion to a private house. This was published in 2020 as volume 92 of Yorkshire Archaeological Journal.

  • York Festival Trust towards the production of the York Mystery Plays on Wagons.


In 2016 we offered support to:

  • York Archaeological Trust towards the production of a stained glass version by the Minster Glaziers of the invasion of Danes under Hingaar and Hubba from the 1130 Bury St. Edmunds Manuscript. This would form a feature of the new JORVIK Viking Centre exhibition as part of its reconstruction after the flooding.


In 2015 we offered support to:

  • Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society towards the production of Volume 31 of York Historian.

  • J.G.P. Taylor by way of an interest free loan towards the production of his History of Riccall.

  • York Archaeological Trust towards the analysis of households in three York parishes from the transcribed Hearth Tax returns for 1672.


In 2014 we offered support to:

  • Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society towards the production of Volume 30 of York Historian.

  • York Archaeological Trust towards the digitisation of the results of their old excavations to make them accessible for researchers.

  • Yorkshire Philosophical Society towards the construction of a walk-on geological map of Yorkshire to commemorate William Smith who created the first geological map of Britain.


In 2013 we offered support to:

  • The Historical Towns Atlas Committee towards the production of the Historical Atlas of York.

  • The University of York towards research and the production of a play called “Life in a chocolate Factory”.

  • Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society towards the production of Volume 29 of York Historian.

  • Professor E. Royle towards publication of a book on the Great Yorkshire Election of 1807.


In 2012:

  • We made an interest free loan to the Rowntree Society towards the production of a biography of Joseph Rowntree.


In 2011 we offered support to:

  • Dr. Mary Garrison towards an exhibition commemorating Alcuin’s lost library.

  • Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society towards the production of Volume 28 of York Historian.

  • York Archaeological Trust Oral History Department towards the production of a book on Sport in York and the Olympic Games.


In 2010 we offered financial support to:

  • York Guilds Mystery Plays Board, to assist in producing the wagon plays in 2010.

  • York Minster Fabric Rolls Project, to assist with expenses in preparing an edition and translation of these medieval documents.

  • The Borthwick Institute for Historical Research, to publish an extended version of the first Sheldon Memorial Trust Lecture.


In 2009 we offered financial support to:

  • York Archaeological Trust, for the publication of a work on St Mary’s Abbey and the King’s Manor; and towards publishing an oral history project on secondary schools in York.


In 2008 we offered financial support to:

  • York Oral History Society, for a project to produce a book and an exhibition relating to Terry’s factory.


In 2007 we offered financial support to:

  • York Archaeological Trust, towards the cost of producing a book based on the oral histories of York in World War II.

  • J.P.G.Taylor, towards the cost of producing a book of epitaphs.

  • Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society, towards the production of York Historian.

  • Sir Ron Cooke, towards the costs of publishing a catalogue of an exhibition of paintings of York Minster.

  • United Nations Association International Service, towards a children’s art exhibition.