Could your collection benefit from digitisation funding?

Funding
Written By Lynne Dickens

Many of Northamptonshire's heritage organisations hold unique archives, photographs, documents and collections that tell the story of our county. Making these resources more accessible while ensuring their long-term preservation can be a challenge, particularly for volunteer-led organisations.

art collection on a blue wall and purple wall with a sofa situated in front for viewing

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash‍

The TWA Digitisation Grant has helped archives, museums, libraries and heritage groups across the UK digitise important collections, improving access for researchers, volunteers and the wider public. This year marks both the 20th anniversary of TownsWeb Archiving and the 10th year of the grant programme, with the largest funding round to date now available.

What's available?

This year's programme includes:

  • 10 grants of £3,000

  • Up to £1,000 additional match funding per applicant

Since its launch, the TWA Digitisation Grant has awarded more than £200,000 to over 135 organisations across the UK, supporting projects that preserve heritage collections while increasing public engagement and accessibility.

Could your organisation benefit?

Whether you are considering digitising photographs, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, museum collections, local history archives or other heritage materials, this funding could help turn plans into reality.

Digitisation can help organisations:

  • Improve access to collections

  • Support research and learning

  • Increase public engagement

  • Preserve fragile or at-risk materials

  • Reach new audiences online

Key dates

Applications close: 5 June 2026 (5pm)

Winners announced: 6 August 2026 at the ARA Annual Conference

Match funding opens: 7 August 2026

“Making collections more accessible, discoverable and protected for the future.”

The Northamptonshire Heritage Forum has contacted TownsWeb Archiving to enquire whether an extension to the application deadline may be possible. However, we would encourage any interested organisations to explore the opportunity as soon as possible.

For further information and application details, visit the TownsWeb Archiving website.

For many heritage organisations, digitisation is becoming an increasingly important part of preserving and sharing local history. This funding opportunity could provide valuable support for organisations looking to take the next step in making their collections available to wider audiences.

Lynne Dickens

Lynne is currently a part-time freelance website designer and marketer. Formerly trading full-time as Spot On Creative is a Northants-based creative team who have the hard-earned skills, expertise and industry knowledge that only come from having worked for years in advertising. It was all managed by Lynne Dickens who has over 20 years’ experience in marketing communications, and ten years in website design and build, and creative team project management.

Lynne is also a qualified art historian and has some expertise in curating fine art exhibitions and producing all of the catalogues, posters and supporting material to create a successful event.

All the guys in the team have worked for one-man bands, SMEs and large blue-chip multinationals in just about every sector, field and industry. Collectively, we can come up with great ideas, superb design and copy, and exceptional photography for anything from websites to email campaigns, branding to brochures – and everything in between.

And the beauty of Spot On Creative is that we’re big in creativity, experience and knowledge, but small in overheads and invoices. So we’re a much more sensible and affordable option for you than a larger advertising agency or marketing company.

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