Towards a Thriving Sector - October 2025
Topic outline
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Application period extended to fill last few places!
Towards a Thriving Sector (TTS) is a project that will give you the opportunity to really explore what working in collaboration with other heritage organisations and your community can mean. Based on the successful Steps to Sustainability (Steps) project delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy, TTS takes the best of Steps and over a period of 8 months offers participants the chance to benefit from £1,000 towards a chosen project, as well as providing in-person and online learning sessions, coaching / mentoring, panel events, and exchange visits. This learning opportunity will also engage with innovative sector organisations and Steps alumni who will share their experiences and journey to becoming a more resilient organisation in these challenging times. Learners on Steps felt the networking and sharing impacted hugely on their experiences and you can see more about programme that has influenced TTS here
Thanks to National Lottery players, Towards a Thriving Sector is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Who is this for?
The project will work with a total of 18 small to medium sized organisations over 3 broad geographical areas:
- Moray and Highland
- West of Scotland / Islands
- Southern Scotland
We ideally want two people from each organisation to attend - preferably one staff member and one board member. Places on the programme are fully funded and we can assist with travel expenses for the initial in-person session.Please note unfortunately participants from Steps to Sustainability are not eligible to apply
When?
We are accepting applications from 1 July - 1 August 2025 (this period has now been extended).
Please click on the link at the bottom of the page to apply. Successful applicants will be notified on 8 August 2025 or soon after submission for later applicants.
The programme runs for 7 months from October 2025 to April 2026.
What's Included?
Our Facilitators
Sally Robertson, Anne Martin, and Kate Harcus, who were all part of our Steps to Sustainability team, will be the facilitators on this project.
To learn more about the facilitators please click here.
Provisional Dates
Moray & Highland
1. All-cohort Online Launch
9 October 2025 (online)
2. Learning Session - Welcome
29 October 2025 (in person)
3. Learning Session - People
26 November 2025 (online)
4. All-cohort Reconnect Session
8 January 2026 (online)
5. All-cohort Heritage Finance Café
22 January 2026 (online)
6. Learning Session - Finance
12 February 2026 (online)
7. Visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre
3 March 2026 (in person)
8. Learning Session - Comms & Marketing
19 March 2026 (online)
9. All-cohort Heritage Connection Café
26 March 2026 (online)
10. Learning Session - Connectedness
23 April 2026 (online)W. Scotland & Isles
1. All-cohort Online Launch
9 October 2025 (online)2. Learning Session - Welcome
27 & 28 October 2025 (in person)3. Learning Session - People
25 November 2025 (online)4. All-cohort Reconnect Session
8 January 2026 (online)5. All-cohort Heritage Finance Café
22 January 2026 (online)6. Learning Session - Finance
3 February 2026 (online)7. Visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre
3 March 2026 (in person)8. Learning Session - Comms & Marketing
10 March 2026 (online)9. All-cohort Heritage Connection Café
26 March 2026 (online)10. Learning Session - Connectedness
21 April 2026 (online)Southern Scotland
1. All-cohort Online Launch
9 October 2025 (online)2. Learning Session - Welcome
30 October 2025 (in person)3. Learning Session - People
27 November 2025 (online)4. All-cohort Reconnect Session
8 January 2026 (online)5. All-cohort Heritage Finance Café
22 January 2026 (online)6. Learning Session - Finance
5 February 2026 (online)7. Visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre
3 March 2026 (in person)8. Learning Session - Comms & Marketing
12 March 2026 (online)9. All-cohort Heritage Connection Café
26 March 2026 (online)10. Learning Session - Connectedness
23 April 2026 (online)More Information?
To hear more about the project please click on the link below to watch a recording of one of the information sessions we have held recently.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
In collaboration with:
Below are organisations we are collaborating with for Towards a Thriving Sector, including directly connecting with the opportunities on the Museums Galleries Scotland's Museum Futures Programme.
