Strategic partners

Our strategic partners are a range of specialist and expert organisations in the heritage sector. We work with them on a multi-year basis, and they distribute our funds through their grant programmes. Working with strategic partners improves the reach and impact of our preservation and conservation work. In addition to administering the grants, they also provide invaluable advice and in-depth support to organisations, often those who are smaller and volunteer-run.

Our Board of Trustees is regularly briefed on their work, and funding is reviewed regularly in the light of its impact and the needs of the sector. Generally, if a project is eligible for grant support from one of our partners, it is not eligible to apply direct to us.

Did you know?

Last year, our partners distributed around £500,000 in grants.

Our Strategic Partners

Church Building Council

The Church Buildings Council (part of the Church of England) advises churches and dioceses on the care, conservation and development of church buildings.

We support the Church Buildings Council’s ChurchCare grants, which help the conservation of historic church interiors and churchyard structures.

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National Manuscripts Conservation Trust

National Manuscripts Conservation Trust preserves important manuscript and archive collections found in non-national archives, libraries and universities.

We work with them to support the care and conservation of manuscripts in the UK.

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Architectural Heritage Fund

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) promotes the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas.

We support the AHF’s programme in Wales and Northern Ireland by funding two types of grants: project viability and project development.

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Association of Independent Museums

The Association of Independent Museums (AIM) supports and champions independent museums, galleries and heritage organisations across the UK to prosper and achieve their purpose.

We work with AIM to support their collections care, audit and conservation grant programmes to help AIM members conserve their objects and collections.

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Theatres Trust

The Theatres Trust is national advisory public body for theatres and champions the future of live performance, by protecting and supporting excellent theatre buildings.

We work with the Theatres Trust to help save and preserve theatres at risk with sector wide capacity and resilience building and conservation grants.

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"We’ve worked collaboratively with the Pilgrim Trust’s expert and professional team for almost 70 years to ensure the funding we are awarded is impactful and encourages others to support church buildings of architectural and historic merit."

Claire Walker, CEO, National Churches Trust