The Heritage Alliance has launched a new training scheme, designed to provide the skills and confidence necessary for independent heritage sites to secure greater success in accessing funding from both private and corporate sources.

Working alongside the Institute of Fundraising (IOF), The Heritage Alliance’s Giving to Heritage programme is a two year scheme – backed as part of a £3m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Catalyst initiative – which launched its new website today (Friday). It will offer around 8,500 learning opportunities to heritage fundraisers, accessible across the country at a fraction of the original cost.

The training courses – part-subsidised by the HLF – are valued at £300 per head for the 15-person seminars, but will only cost participants £20 to take part.

99 workshops, starting in London on 3 June, will cover 13 topics on day-long events led by an IOF fundraiser in addition to a number of one-to-one surgery sessions, mentoring pairings and webinars. Participants will also enjoy access to the IOF’s Continuous Professional Development system for three months prior to the course.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive with a project in mind for fundraising and then will use the one-day workshop to develop a fundraising plan and case for support, with post-course projects also being added to the Heritage Funding Directory.

“The course is bespoke to heritage,” said Mark Webb, project officer for Giving to Heritage speaking to Leisure Opportunities. “At a time of greater competition for funds and continued government cutbacks, it is essential that the independent sector looks to new sources of funds, and has the confidence to put in place new fundraising techniques to place their organisations on a stronger footing for the future.

“Thanks to HLF funding, we have the opportunity to make a huge difference to the robustness of the independent heritage sector by delivering high quality fundraising training across the UK.”

“The idea behind the courses is that we want to make a lasting change to these projects and we would like to hear back from participants 12 months after the course, to see how they are progressing.”