As part of the ongoing North Shields 800 celebrations, two small grant programmes are now open to support creative, community-led projects that explore and celebrate the town’s rich heritage.
These grants are designed to help individuals and organisations deliver new, North Shields 800-themed activities and events that engage local people and create a lasting legacy.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund – Community Small Grants
Grants of £500 to £1,000 are available for:
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Private owners of heritage assets
- Partnerships and community groups
Projects must:
- Be delivered in North Shields
- Be new and align with one or more themes:
- Education & Learning
- Arts & Music
- Engaging Communities
- Demonstrate public benefit and good value for money
Applicants must have a bank account, a governing document, a safeguarding policy, and at least two unrelated board members.
Corporate Community Small Grants
Grants of £500 to £1,000* are available for Self-employed creative individuals.
We welcome applications from underrepresented groups, including:
- Diverse cultural, ethnic and faith communities
- LGBTQIA+ individuals
- Disabled and neurodivergent people
- Young people, older adults, and intergenerational groups
Projects should be new, based in North Shields, and creatively engage the community with local heritage.
If your project involves working with children, young people or vulnerable adults you must have a safeguarding policy in place.
* We are looking to/expect to fund five projects
How to Apply
Deadline for applications is Wednesday 6 August at 5pm via the forms below. (Word versions available on request).
All projects must be completed by 31 December 2025.
Successful applicants will be invited to a grant induction session and required to complete monitoring and evaluation.
If you have any queries about this funding, please contact Keith Hardy, Deputy CEO at VODA: keith.hardy@voda.org.uk.
About North Shields 800
North Shields 800 is a community-led celebration of the town’s 800th anniversary, organised by the North Shields 800 Committee, chaired by Tynemouth MP Sir Alan Campbell. The committee includes heritage groups, the fishing industry, arts and cultural organisations, charities, churches, community groups, local venues and businesses.
Founded in 1225 as a village of simple huts (shiels) serving Tynemouth Priory, North Shields has grown into a thriving town with a proud maritime, mining, railway and industrial heritage—and a vibrant arts and business community.
The year-long programme includes boat parades, blessings of the fleet, exhibitions, street art, heritage projects, performances, and memory-sharing initiatives. It runs alongside major regeneration efforts and the growth of the North Shields Cultural Quarter.
With Thanks To...
With thanks to the National Lottery players.
