Adam Klups, DAC Secretary and Care of Churches and DAC Team Leader has asked parishes to urgently consider writing to the DCMS Secretary of State and their local MPs, to express concern over the possible loss of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
UPDATE: Please click here to access an online tool, kindly provided by the Roman Catholic Church, which makes contacting your MP about this matter a very easy exercise.
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, known in short as LPWGS, gives grants to places of worship that covers the VAT on repairs or alterations over £1000.
It is currently set to run only until the end of March 2025.
Adam said: “At present the extension of this vital scheme does not feel secure and both colleagues at Church House, Westminster and my team have been pursuing additional advocacy. I am aware that some of you contacted your MPs as well as Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about this matter. Thank you!
“Earlier this month, the BBC picked up the story. Please see here.
“If you have not yet done so, as a matter of urgency, please consider writing to both DCMS Secretary of State: 1st Floor, 100 Parliament Street, London SW1A 2BQ (ku.vo1733528067g.smc1733528067d@sei1733528067riuqn1733528067e1733528067) and your MP, to express your concern about the possible loss of this vital grant scheme. You can find your MP’s email address here.
“Historic Religious Buildings Alliance (HRBA) colleagues have prepared a useful guide on what to put in your letter or email:
- In your subject line, put ‘Attn: the Secretary of State (LPWGS)’, or something similar. Make sure you say at the beginning why you are writing – to ask for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to be extended beyond March 2025.
- If you have concrete experience of the Scheme, then in just one or two paragraphs explain what your project is/was for, and why the VAT refund is/was important. If the building is used for community activities, or is important to local people in other ways, say something about this.
- Do say if your work was funded by gifts and donations. Also mention if it involves action in response to climate change, or other environmental benefits. Also consider being explicit that you are grateful that government provides the scheme.
- Send your email to The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and your MP.
“Many thanks for your support.”
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The CBCEW link does not work as it is missing an ‘h’ at the start.
Thanks Mark, all sorted 👍