Before applications officially open on 16th June, we want to help you get ready to submit your strongest application possible. We’ve gathered some valuable tips from our panel of judges who will be reviewing all of this year’s entries.
Our three expert judges share insights on what they’re looking for in a stand-out TWA Digitisation Grant application. Every year, they’re impressed by the quality, ambition, and impact of the projects submitted — and they’re always keen to see applications that are clear, thoughtful, and purposeful.
There’s still time to start planning your submission, and we can’t wait to see the ideas you bring forward. We genuinely look forward to reviewing every application — so get ready, and stay tuned for the official launch on 16th June!
Heritage value, uniqueness, and importance of the collection.
How local people and communities will benefit from the collection.
Whether academic, social historians, genealogists, or other researchers.
Accessibility plans for your collection, such as platforms, preservation, and websites.
Casper is the Chief Operating Officer here at TownsWeb, and has been part of the Digitisation Grant judging panel since it first began.
Like previous years, TWA is offering match funding to all applicants on a first come, first served basis, and I’m confident it will result in even stronger applications. It does mean our job as judges will be even tougher, as we look for those truly standout projects. So, my first tip is to read all the judges’ advice and carefully review the grant entry criteria. Make it easy for us to recognise your project—essentially, make sure every box is ticked!
Speaking of ticking boxes, it’s crucial that your motivations for digitisation are clearly thought through and well articulated. Whether your focus is preservation, access, engagement, or more behind-the-scenes goals like admin support, workplace efficiency, or improved collaboration—it all matters and should be clearly explained.
Lastly, once your material is digitised, I’d love to know how you plan to use it. There’s real potential to breathe new life into digital collections and present them in imaginative ways. You don’t need to have everything mapped out or a platform in place, but giving this some careful thought will go a long way.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself—take a step back and assess your collections with fresh eyes, perhaps from the perspective of a critical friend.
At the heart of it, ask yourself: what story does this document or book tell? What insight does it offer your audience? And does it connect to other materials that could help piece together a fuller, richer narrative of the past? That context can make a big difference.
I welcome applications that go the extra mile to stand out and grab my attention—consider me open and ready to be convinced by what you have to offer.
Don’t assume I have any prior knowledge of your archive or specialist area, and don’t let word count limit your ability to include essential, engaging detail. If your archive is ‘world class’, explain why—I’m eager to learn more.
A strong application is one that gives itself every opportunity to succeed—by ensuring it fully meets all the scoring criteria. Even the most incredible project can’t progress if key sections are incomplete. That’s probably my top piece of advice.
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For more details, please watch the official announcement video, with our CEO, Paul Sugden, below:
Don’t hesitate to contact us with any digitisation grant queries and questions you may have.
Remember, applications open on 16th June, and all completed applications should be submitted by 25th July, 11.59pm (BST).
The winners will be announced on 28th August 2025 at the ARA Annual Conference!
Good luck, from all of us at TownsWeb Archiving!