AIM training grants of up to £350 are available to support member museums in developing the skills and expertise of their workforce (paid or voluntary). Priority will be given to smaller museums receiving less than 20,000 visitors a year.
Applications now open.
The AIM Training Grant is open to applications from member organisations.
Eligibility: AIM member organisations
Grant Award: up to £350
Closing Date: applications now open until November 2026 (Claim deadline: Monday 14 December 2026)
Assessment: Applications will be assessed on the first Tuesday of the month and a decision shared via email. Applicants will be sent a reference number and acknowledgement by email.
What will the grant fund?
AIM Training Grants are available to support member museums to develop the skills and expertise of their workforce, both paid and voluntary. AIM member organisations can apply for funding, up to £350 per organisation per year, to support training and development. We can support costs related to fees, accommodation, (where distance travel is involved), and environmentally sensitive travel.
The grant can be used to fund:
- Attendance of courses, seminars, and workshops
- Online remote courses and training
- Subject specialist training
- Museum study visits
- Mentoring placements.
We regret that we are unable to fund:
- Conference tickets/expenses – (Please see our separate AIM Conference Bursary).
- Individual continual professional development where there is no organisational benefit.
- Retrospective applications for funding for training that has taken place or that has been booked prior to the training grant being applied for/awarded.
Eligibility criteria and grant conditions
- Applicant museums must be AIM members and priority will be given to smaller museums, staff members and volunteers that have not previously received a training grant.
- We can support multiple training grant applications from one museum organisational member up to a total value of £350 per year.
- Organisations/ recipients of an AIM National Conference bursary will not be able to apply for an AIM Training Grant in the same calendar year.
- Applicants are encouraged to only seek the funding they need and to round the amount requested to the nearest zero or five.
- Payment of grant funding, if awarded, will be made retrospectively on receipt of a statement of expenses incurred, proof of expenditure, an image, and a brief report of its value for sharing on AIM channels/Bulletin.
- Payment of grants can only be made to the AIM member organisation.
- AIM training grants awarded for use in 2026 need to be completed and claimed before Monday the 14 December 2026.
How to apply
Please complete the application form and email it to Fiona Woolley, AIM’s Programmes and Grants Officer at [email protected]. Applications must be authorised by the Museum Manager or Chair.
Applications must be submitted by the end of the calendar month. Applications are reviewed on the first Tuesday of each month with decisions shared shortly afterwards by email. If your request is urgent, please mark your application as URGENT when you submit it for consideration.
Training grants guidance notes (opens in a new tab) Training grant application form (opens in a new tab)Grant payment
Payment of grant funding, if awarded, will be made retrospectively on receipt of a statement of expenses incurred, proof of expenditure, an image, and a brief report of the grants value for sharing on AIM channels/bulletin (max. 200 words). Grant payments can only be made to the AIM member organisation. AIM training grants awarded for use in 2026 need to be completed and claimed before Monday the 14 December 2026.