Applications Open for £48 million Heritage Funding

Roof repairs at St Marys Newark, funded through the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund.

Three heritage funds have opened for Expressions of Interest, including the Places of Worship Fund, Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and Heritage Revival Fund.

The Places of Worship Renewal Fund offers up to £23 million this year; Heritage at Risk Capital Fund up to £15 million; and Heritage Revival Fund up to £10 million.

Aimed at the 14,000 listed places of worship in England and the most at-risk heritage sites, the funding will prioritise high deprivation areas, which face the greatest fundraising challenges.

Many places of worship and heritage sites fulfil wide roles in modern communities, from providing services like food banks and warm spaces, to providing affordable housing or workspaces.

Places of Worship Renewal Fund

Offering up to £23 million this year, the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund targets areas of the greatest need, with upfront capital grants for crucial repairs. It is open to listed places of worship serving all faiths.

The Places of Worship Renewal Fund will operate for at least the remaining three years of this parliament with a total of £92 million.

Heritage at Risk Capital Fund

A second round of the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has opened for Expressions of Interest, prioritising projects that restore heritage sites serving disadvantaged communities and which demonstrate strong local benefits, from job creation to cultural events.

The first round of the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund backed 37 projects. Projects included roof repairs at a rare Victorian-era Turkish baths in Swindon; and a slate re-roof of the Salford Lads Club in Manchester.

Up to £15 million in funding is available to at-risk heritage sites this year, as part of a total £75 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund.

Underside of the Great Barn at Gawthorpe Hall, funded through the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund

Heritage Revival Fund

The Heritage Revival Fund has also opened applications to its second round, with funding doubling to £10 million per year. The fund – worth £45 million in total – helps to rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings, focusing on town centres, to create new arts and culture venues, workspaces, affordable housing, and more.

The large swimming pool at Swindon’s Health Hydro

Historic England will distribute the Places of Worship Renewal Fund and the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund. The Architectural Heritage Fund will distribute the Heritage Revival Fund in partnership with Historic England.

Applicants can submit expressions of interest through Historic England’s website.

>> Read more about heritage roofing in the news