Glaziers Foundation

The Foundation funds heritage conservation projects in historic places of worship, cathedrals, and public buildings across England and Wales, with a particular focus on stained, painted, architectural, and structural glass. It also supports educational work placements in studios of national or international repute through the Ashton Hill & Lever programme, offering fully-funded work experience to enhance skills and employability. Professional Development Grants cover training, research, and events for individuals in the field. Additionally, the Foundation supports knowledge dissemination through publications and museums, and the international relocation of stained glass via the London Stained Glass Repository. Key beneficiaries include the British Society of Master Glass Painters and the Stained Glass Museum.

The Foundation supports both registered charities and faith groups, as well as individuals resident or employed in the UK. For individual grants such as Ashton Hill & Lever and Professional Development Grants, applicants must be interested in gaining their first experience in stained or architectural glass, or be established practitioners seeking to enhance their skills. Organisational applicants are typically historic places of worship or public buildings able to manage significant glass conservation projects, mainly in England and Wales. The Foundation prioritises high conservation standards and accredited practitioners, but unsolicited applications are not accepted—a phone enquiry or direct contact is required first.

The Foundation does not fund general community or people-focused projects, as its remit is exclusively on glass heritage and craft. For Professional Development Grants, it will only fund one-to-one courses where an exceptional need is demonstrated, and it is unlikely to fund attendance at conferences for the purpose of presenting the work of established studios. The Foundation also does not provide core or unrestricted funding, and match funding or partnership funding is expected for larger conservation projects.

The Foundation offers one-off grants, with work placements typically lasting one fully-funded week of consecutive working days. Professional Development Grants and Ashton Hill & Lever awards are single instances, not recurring multi-year commitments. Match funding or other sources of support are expected for placements, as applicants must provide details of other funding used. The Foundation welcomes unsolicited approaches but requires a preliminary phone enquiry or direct contact before any application is considered. Funding is partial and project-based, with no core or unrestricted grants offered.