The Let's Create Jubilee Fund will support voluntary and community groups to develop creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. This fund has been created by Arts Council England (ACE) with funds from the National Lottery. It is open to voluntary organisations with charitable aims and working towards a common goal which does not have to be based solely around arts and culture.

Projects must:

  • focus on art and creativity
  • engage with at least one of the artforms that ACE supports (see below)
  • be high quality and inclusive in their approach
  • culminate in June 2022
  • benefit people in Wiltshire or Swindon particularly those on low incomes or facing disadvantage 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with an artist, creative or cultural organisation that has been in receipt of ACE funding within the last 4 years to help deliver their project. Although this is not an essential requirement, in general we would expect larger awards (i.e. 5-10k) to be made to projects that involve a partnership between a community organisation and an ACE funded organisation; the lead partner should be the community organisation, who will receive the grant and distribute funds as needed to their partner arts organisation. You can find out more about ACE supported artists or organisations in your local area on their website. 

Applications will open on Tuesday 4 January 2022. All applicants will have a funding decision by Friday 1 April 2022. The project can begin from 1 April so that preparation can take place such as rehearsals. Public-facing activity should take place in June near the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

What types of organisations can apply?

You can apply for a grant if you are a:

  • constituted voluntary or community organisation
  • registered charity
  • not-for-profit company including community interest companies where the majority of directors receive no payment from the company

The above organisations need to:

  • be a local or regional organisation, i.e only working in Wiltshire or Swindon or in the south/south west of England. Please note: the majority of people benefiting from the grant must live in Wiltshire or Swindon 

or

  • be a branch of a national organisations with a local management committee based in Wiltshire or Swindon, your own constitution, and a bank account you control

and

  • have been established for at least 12 months

We can accept applications for funding from organisations working as a consortium, partnership, network or group. For non-constituted consortiums or groups, one organisation must act as the lead organisation and send us the application. If the application goes on to be successful, this organisation would then be accountable for the grant.

Your organisation must have:

  • a business address in the UK
  • an active voluntary management committee with at least three people who are not:
    • related to each other or in a long-term relationship
    • living at the same address
  • a project lead that is at least 18 years old

Your organisation needs the following financial arrangements and documents:

  • a bank account in the exact name of your organisation with two signatories that are not related to each other
  • less than 12 months running costs in unrestricted reserves. This means in your end of year financial accounts, Unrestricted reserves (not including Designated funds) must be less than your Expenditure
  • financial records or accounts
  • a recent bank statement
  • a constitution
  • a financial plan or budget showing this year's expected income, expenditure and reserves. If you do not have these we will discuss this with you when you apply.
  • a Safeguarding Policy and an Equal Opportunities Policy. Again, if you do not have these we will discuss this with you when you apply. Further guidance is available here

Who isn't eligible for funding:

  • non-constituted community or voluntary groups
  • schools but we can fund PTA groups if they meet our eligibility guidelines
  • statutory bodies such as city, county or parish councils or health institutions
  • organisations that have been established for less than 12 months
  • Limited companies, sole traders or partnerships without charitable aims
  • organisations that do not have a proven track record of service delivery



    Which types of project are eligible for funding?

    What types of projects will the fund support?

    Culture and creativity come in all shapes and sizes, so we do not want to be too prescriptive about what form projects could take; it’s more important for you to consider how to deliver creative and cultural activity that your local communities will want to take part in and find a partner who can help you deliver it. To be eligible projects should engage with at least one of the artforms which ACE supports through its funding. These are:

    • music
    • theatre
    • dance
    • visual arts
    • literature
    • combined arts - including festivals and carnivals
    • museum and library activities

    Please note: you should not be making a profit from the activities or events.


    How much can I apply for?

    Applicants can apply for grants from £750 to £10,000. The grants can be used to part fund a larger project if it meets the criteria.

    Please note: if you are applying for capital costs (eg equipment) as part of your grant the cost of this cannot exceed £5,000. You must also be able to evidence how this expenditure will benefit you in the long term.

    What can the grant be used for?

    Eligible costs include:

    • costs of organising your events and people needed to manage the project
    • artist fees (both creating and delivering the event); there is guidance available on the fair pay of artists here
    • volunteer expenses
    • materials or equipment needed for the activity
    • food and non-alcoholic drinks
    • marketing costs and promotion of the event
    • overheads relating specifically to the project (such as insurance and evaluation)
    • costs of making your event accessible to all, such as BSL interpreters, translation services, additional signage


    What the grant cannot cover:

    • activities that have already taken place, or to order or purchase goods or services before a decision has been made on the application  
    • activity that does not culminate in June 2022
    • costs of routine activity that regularly takes place and is not adapted or enhanced to do something special as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee
    • contribution to appeals
    • activity promoting political or religious beliefs
    • activity which should be provided by statutory services
    • the mitigation of losses and/or debt mitigation

    Further guidance is available here. Please read before starting your application.

    This programme is now closed for applications.