Three Major Capital Funds for Heritage

DCMS have announced that three heritage funds have opened for Expressions of Interest, including the new £92 million Places of Worship Fund, as well as the second rounds of the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and Heritage Revival Fund.

The deadline for the current rounds of the Places of Worship and Heritage at Risk funds is 14th June 2026. Further rounds are expected later this year.

Places of Worship Fund

Administered by Historic England, the Places of Worship Renewal Fund supports urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship in England. Grants ranging from £10,000 to £1,000,000 will be awarded for capital works that keep buildings safe, open and in public use. Any listed place of worship in England can apply, of any faith or denomination, provided it is an active place of worship.

Priority will be given to projects in areas of England with the greatest need for investment, and those that bring most community benefit.

Full details, including information about how to apply, can be found on the Historic England website.

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 14th June 2026. A second round will follow soon after in September 2026.

Heritage at Risk Capital Fund

Administered by Historic England, the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund gives grants for the conservation, repair and conversion of listed buildings of all grades, historic buildings in conservation areas, registered parks and gardens and scheduled monuments. Grants of up to £1 million are available to organisations or individuals with legal responsibility for the asset. Previous recipients have included the church of St. Catherine of Siena, Sheffield.

Priority will be given to projects in areas of England with the highest level of deprivation and need for investment, and those that bring most community benefit.

Full details, including information about how to apply, can be found on the Historic England website.

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 14th June 2026. Further rounds of grants will follow later in the year and in future years.

Heritage Revival Fund – support for communities to repurpose historic buildings

Administered by the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Heritage Revival Fund (also featured in a previous newsletter) is part of the government’s wider £1.5 billion investment in arts and culture. Through the Fund, AHF will provide grants to hundreds of communities across England, supporting them to take control of and find sustainable new uses for derelict or neglected historic buildings. Previous recipients have included Harmony Works in Sheffield.

Focusing on town centres and areas of high deprivation, this funding will help transform these local heritage assets into vibrant new spaces – ranging from arts centres to cultural and community hubs and affordable housing.

The Fund is open to charities and social enterprises in England seeking to take ownership of and/or adapt historic buildings for community uses. A range of grants are now available to support projects from the earliest stages through to capital works.

Full details, including information about how to apply, can be found on the AHF website.