Community organisations
Have an idea, opportunity or building but need help turning it into a deliverable project?
Heritage & community project support
Turning heritage ideas into viable projects
Have an historic building, heritage project or community asset that needs a way forward?
History Ventures helps community organisations, charities and heritage bodies investigate opportunities, demonstrate need, secure support and develop practical plans for the future.
Talk to us about your project
No obligation. Start with where you are now.
Who we help
Helping organisations find a sustainable way forward
We work with organisations trying to protect, develop or find a sustainable future for heritage and community assets.
Churches & chapels
Trying to save an historic place of worship, transfer it into community ownership or develop sustainable new uses?
Heritage organisations
Need specialist research, feasibility or business planning to take a heritage project to its next stage?
Community asset projects
Considering acquiring, restoring or developing an important local building or facility?
We can help you work out what is possible — and how to make it happen.
What we do
Evidence, planning and practical support
From testing an early idea to developing the evidence and planning needed to move a project forward.
Feasibility studies
Before committing significant time and money, you need to know whether your project can work.
We investigate the opportunity, test demand, explore potential uses, consider income and costs and bring the evidence together into a clear feasibility study.
The result is a practical document that can help your organisation make decisions, approach funders and move the project forward.
Architectural Heritage Fund support
Considering applying to the Architectural Heritage Fund?
History Ventures can help develop the research, feasibility work and business planning needed to support heritage building projects.
We can help you move from an early idea towards a well-evidenced and credible project.
Saving community churches & chapels
Historic churches and chapels are closing across Britain, but closure does not necessarily have to mean the end of their community role.
We work with groups exploring community ownership, new uses and sustainable futures for historic places of worship.
This can include:
- Testing potential uses
- Community consultation
- Feasibility studies
- Income generation
- Business planning
- Funding strategy
The objective is simple: find a future for the building that can actually work.
Community research & consultation
Funders want evidence.
Does the community support the project? Who will use it? What do people want? Is there genuine demand?
History Ventures can design and deliver:
- Community surveys
- Stakeholder interviews
- Public consultations
- Workshops and focus groups
- Visitor and customer research
- Market research
We turn the findings into clear evidence that can inform your plans and strengthen funding applications.
Business planning
A great heritage idea also needs a workable business model.
We help organisations answer the difficult questions:
- Who will use it?
- What will it cost?
- Where will the income come from?
- Who will run it?
- Can it become sustainable?
We bring the answers together into practical business plans designed for real-world heritage and community projects.
From idea to a workable project
Not sure what you need yet?
That is often where projects begin.
- You may have a building that needs saving.
- You may have been offered the opportunity to take ownership of a community asset.
- You may have a funding opportunity but need a feasibility study.
- Or you may simply have a good idea and need help turning it into a credible project.
You don’t need to have all the answers before contacting us.
The person behind History Ventures
Meet Michael Allen
Founder of History Ventures Club and the consultant behind History Ventures.
History Ventures is operated by HV Innovation Group Limited. Michael’s focus is straightforward: clear research, practical advice and realistic plans that help heritage and community projects move forward with confidence.
Discuss your projectStart with the place, the people and the opportunity. Then build the evidence for what comes next.
Have a project to discuss?
Let’s talk about your project
A short initial conversation can help establish what your project needs and whether History Ventures is the right fit.
Share a few details. We’ll use them only to respond to your enquiry.