South and East Lincolnshire Bursary

Do you live or work in South and East Lincolnshire Council Partnership Area and need funds to support your cultural work?

If you live or work in the South and East Lincolnshire Council Partnership area and need support for your work, as a cultural, heritage or community organisation or even as an individual artist, we’ve some exciting news. Support from the partnership means we can offer four FREE places on the National Arts Fundraising School, and if you’re quick one of those places could be yours!

Everything you ever wanted to know about fundraising

Our School’s training programmes, established for over 35 years, has helped almost 2000 individuals and organisations raise over £500M. It’s the perfect way to learn the skills you need to secure cash for your cause, from writing powerful proposals, to setting up a credible Crowdfunder and from asking high net worth individuals for support to clinching that sponsorship deal with a local company. Whether you need £5,000 for your next small project or £5M to refurb your whole building this is a fabulous opportunity.

“NAFS gave me an amazing opportunity to meet lots of great people who were working in range of arts practices. I made some great connections, learned a lot from their collective experience and am still in touch with a few. The School is really well structured with so many opportunities to have a go and to ask questions. It’s for anyone who wants to go to the next level and those who are just starting out! The after programme support is also excellent.”

Liz Kelleher, Freelance Artist, Community Creative Producer and Facilitator

“The School was brilliant. The skilled and knowledgeable programme leaders covered loads of ideas and underpinned it with inspiration and insight. We’ve now transformed our approach to fundraising, and we’re planning to send another trustee to build up our capacity.”

Bruce Knight, Trustee & Arts Director, The Sessions House, Spillsby

Not sure if you’re eligible?

We’re keen to be open and flexible about the individuals and organisations who take advantage of the training. The only condition is that should be within the boundaries of the three partnership local authorities. If you’re unsure about eligibility, or you want to ask questions don’t hesitate to get in touch.

For questions on eligibility contact:

Sam Philips — Samantha.Phillips@e-lindsey.gov.uk

For questions on the programme contact:

Bernard Ross — bernardross@mc.consulting

Yes! I want to apply for my FREE NAFS place

Please only fill in the form below if you work in South and East Lincolnshire Council Partnership Area. This includes South Holland District Council, Boston Borough Council, or East Lindsey District Council.

If you live and work in one of these fabulous locations simply fill in the simple form below. You can use this to apply for a free place on the residential or online version of the National Arts Fundraising School.

The form is simple and just asks you for some basic information about you and why you think you’d benefit. If we need more information we’ll come back to you. Don’t hesitate to apply as we’ll be reviewing and processing applications as they come.

Please be aware that:

The Online programme runs 3rd Mar – 1st April 2025. You should be available Mondays and Tuesday mornings over the month from 09.30-12.30. Note there are video catch-up opportunities if life intervenes!
The In Person programme runs 7th-11th April 2025 in a fabulous hotel near Manchester. You need to be available for the five days of the programme: Monday to Friday.

Applying for your free place is open to anyone: individual artists, producers, cultural entrepreneurs, volunteers or someone representing an organisation. You don’t have to be part of a registered charity, or formal organisation but you should have a clear social or community aspect to your work and remember, your work must have an impact in South and East Lincolnshire Council Partnership Area, i.e. South Holland District Council, Boston Borough Council, or East Lindsey District Council.

I’m not quite ready to apply, I need more info

Interested but need to know more? If you have a specific query don’t hesitate to contact the school director, Bernard Ross bernardross@mc.consulting.