Headley Trust: Archaeological Acquisition Fund Grants

Headley Trust: Archaeological Acquisition Fund Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Headley Trust
Amount: Up to £10,000
Last Updated: February 01, 2026

Summary

The Headley Trust offers grants to assist regional and local museums in acquiring archaeological artefacts. Aimed at items classified as Treasure under the Treasure Act, the minimum purchase price is £500 and the maximum grant awarded is typically up to £10,000. Recent changes to the Treasure Act broaden the definition, allowing for exceptional finds over 200 years old. This fund operates alongside the V&A Purchase Grant Fund to ensure museums receive necessary financial support.

Overview

Information for applicants The Headley Trust is one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. Its trustees are aware of the great difficulties many regional and local museums find in raising the purchase sum to secure archaeological artefacts. They have set aside funds to help museums to do this. Museums have in the past applied for artefacts classified as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 and, since 2008, other UK archaeological items which are more than 300 years old found or excavated at any point. It is unable to consider items to be sold at auction. The minimum purchase price is £500 and the maximum is £300,000. The Headley Trust will consider a contribution towards the balance required. The maximum grant the Trust will award is unlikely to exceed £10,000. Please note that although applications towards the acquisition of coin hoards will be considered, they are not a high priority for support. Changes to the Treasure Act which came into force on 30th July 2023 mean that the definition of Treasure will be broadened. This will be amended to cover exceptional finds of least 200 years old, regardless of the type of metal they are made of – as long as they provide an important insight into the country’s heritage. This will include rare objects, those that provide a special insight into a particular person or event, or those that can shed new light on important regional histories.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. This scheme runs alongside, and in close collaboration with, the V&A Purchase Grant Fund. Applicant museums need to meet the eligibility criteria laid out in the Information for Applicants document available from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund.The Purchase Grant Fund will advise the museum when a case is eligible for the Headley Museums Archaeological Acquisition Fund.