not! Oh well, thanks anyway!

...that you would need to have something set up before you applied for funding, as I'd be surprised if they funded speculative programmes. You will, at least, need a couple of solid quotes on costs.

...is to get a few pals and set yourself up as a charitable/non-profit trust - which means applying to HMRC. It's not difficult - I've done it myself a few years back in relation to a significant archive of folk music I inherited, which I wanted to have digitised and made available to public/researchers in some institution or other.

The reason we were setting up the Trust was to enable us to apply for funding from various bodies - which is, of course, your goal. Accredited non-profit status ticks a key box for a lot of public and private funding bodies, and adds credibility to your project.

In the event, though, the NI and Rep of Ireland Arts Councils had a spare tranche of funding for a 'cross-border' project which they needed to use up, and I was approached rather than vice-versa, so in effect a large part of the goal was achieved before the Trust had even set up a bank account, hence it's been dormant since.

But, as I say, the process of establishing a non-profit Trust with HMRC isn't rocket science (even if I forget the details!). I'd say this should be your first step...

It's the best place to start to get an idea of what's involved.

Briefly, you have to demonstrate that your project meets a real heritage need (Who is it aimed at? What - very specifically - will you do? How will you do it? How will you run it? What's your timeline? How much will it cost? How will you know if you've been successful?)

The HLF people themselves are exceptionally approachable, helpful and enthusiastic. They would be the best people to run your idea by and give you advice.

Good luck!

I'm looking into the creation of a Community Interest Company at the moment because the not for profit side of it is central to the plan.

Essentially we're looking at, to be unbearably pompous, saving memories for the nation. Our plan suggests we could be self financing by year three - via other contributors - but the first couple of years would require elements of funding.

Glad to hear the HLF are appoachable. I might be about to start trying their patience!

Thanks again.