Government funding to improve the physical security of places of worship in England and Wales.

The Home Office is providing a total of £3.2 million in grant funding this year to help places of worship who feel they are vulnerable to hate crime to install more secure gates, locks, alarms and CCTV in order to deter and prevent hate crime attacks.

Places of worship in England and Wales, including churches, gurdwaras, mosques, temples and associated faith community centres, can apply for grants of up to £56,000 per place of worship.

The funding can cover the costs of up to three security measures from the following list:

• CCTV (fixed cameras, not pan-tilt cameras)
• Fencing and/or railings (no more than 2.1m high)
• Manually operated pedestrian and vehicle gates
• Automated vehicle gates
• Security doors and locks
• Reinforcing single glazed windows (with anti-shatter film or bars/grilles)
• Intruder alarms
• Access control (fob or keypad)
• Video intercom systems
• Lighting (building mounted)

The funding only covers the provision and installation of these security measures. It does not cover other associated costs such as licensing and planning permission, or ongoing costs such as charges for annual service, maintenance and monitoring.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on 9 August 2020.

For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:

1. Esotec Limited
   Home Office
   Southmead Industrial Estate
   Unit 13 Moorbrook Park
   Didcot
   OX11 7HP
   Email: pow_sfs_2020@esotec.co.uk

See the full Govt website information here

Faith leaders and government have agreed to develop a plan to enable the phased and safe reopening of places of worship when the evidence shows it is the right time to do so, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed today (15 May 2020).

This follows the first virtual meeting of the new Places of Worship Taskforce which includes leaders and representatives from all the major faiths.

Read more on the Govt website