Places of Worship: Inspiring Ideas opens today. It’s a new strategic funding initiative that welcomes applications from projects looking to explore innovative ideas and test new approaches to managing, caring for, and funding religious buildings, of all faiths and denominations.

The aim of the fund is to help make our precious historic places of worship financially resilient, so they are safeguarded for future generations.

What are we looking to fund?

Successful projects could focus on single religious buildings or partnerships working together to explore and trial innovative ideas. Projects could be linked geographically, thematically or by the challenges faced.

Example activities that could be supported include:

• investigating and trialling new approaches to fundraising, trading or other income generating activities;
• activities that explore new models of managing the building and engaging with the wider community;
• building capacity across a group of congregations by identifying and delivering training for staff, volunteers and trustees; or
• investigating new ways of sharing learning and resources across a number of faith sites or brokering new partnerships

Who is in the partnership?

The project is a partnership between HLF, the Pilgrim Trust, the Plunkett Foundation and the National Churches Trust. Total funding available will be at least £1million.

How much can I apply for?

Grants will be delivered through HLF’s existing Resilient Heritage programme and applicants can apply for a grant of between £10,000 and £250,000 and all projects must be delivered in a single stage.

Why are we launching this initiative?

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of HLF, trialed the programme at the National Churches Trust Conference Building Resilience, in June.

It joins a number of new targeted initiatives designed to help heritage organisations and those responsible for heritage to build financial resilience and future sustainability including Rethinking Parks and Resilient Heritage.   

Commenting on the ambitions for the initiative, Ros, said: “Building financial resilience is vital to the future of all heritage organisations. The programme is the latest in a series of strategic HLF initiatives designed to empower local people to work together to explore new ways of securing the heritage that matters to them.

Taylor Review on the Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals

The programme is complementing pilot projects now being rolled out with financial support from the Department of Digital, Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) as a result of the Taylor Review on the Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals.  HLF and DCMS will work together to make sure that the lessons from both initiatives are used to work towards a more sustainable future.

Update 11 September 2018:

More information about the initiative is available in the supplementary guidance which can be found as an attachment below.

Once you’ve read this guidance and you think your project might be suitable for funding, you will need to complete the expression of interest form (also found below), and send it to inspiring-ideas@hlf.org.uk. You can also email us if you would like to discuss your idea before submitting an expression of interest.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by 14 October 2018.