More than 100 faith group representatives have expressed interest in the £1m pilot fund, which opens for applications today
- Funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants
- The fund will help Scotland’s listed places of worship cover VAT costs as they carry out vital repair and conservation work
Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund opens for applications today (Thursday 1 October), providing up to £1m to help listed places of worship across Scotland meet VAT costs associated with repair and conservation work.
The pilot fund has been developed in response to the closure of the previous UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. It is open to listed places of worship of all faiths and denominations, with funding available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants.
Since the pilot fund was announced in August, HES has engaged with over 100 faith group representatives and stakeholders to help make the scheme accessible, inclusive and straightforward to use. Application information is available in Arabic, Gaelic, Polish, Hindi, Urdu and Hebrew, helping more of Scotland’s faith communities access information about the fund in their preferred language.
Places of worship are an important part of Scotland’s historic environment, with many continuing to play a vital role in their community. As well as places to worship, they can provide spaces for community activities and services and often serve as local landmarks and visitor destinations. Supporting these historic buildings can therefore help support the communities that surround, use and value them.
Funding for the pilot has been made available through HES’s existing Grants budget. The scheme will run until March 2027, helping to assess demand and gather evidence for the Scottish Government to inform potential future funding arrangements.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan said:
“Historic places of worship are centres of religious life as well as cherished landmarks and community hubs which bring people together, provide space for local groups and offer support to vulnerable people.
“This fund will help preserve these important assets and ensure they continue to serve their communities, since VAT on necessary repair work can be a major barrier to investment.
“By working with Historic Environment Scotland to replace support withdrawn by the UK Government, we are reaffirming our commitment to protecting and celebrating Scotland’s cultural heritage.”
Stephen Uphill, Interim Chief Executive at Historic Environment Scotland, said:
“We are delighted to open this highly-anticipated pilot fund for applications. Places of worship are an important part of Scotland’s historic environment and, for many communities, remain vital spaces to come together and share in their faith.
“We have worked closely with faith groups to make the application process as clear and accessible as possible for all the diverse communities that need it. Our mission is Heritage For All, and we want faith communities across Scotland to be able to access support if they meet for worship in a listed building, whatever their faith or tradition, whether they meet in a Scandinavian-style church in Ardrossan or a mosque converted from an Arts and Crafts church in Glasgow.”