The second round of the Cultural Recovery Fund opens for applications on 7 January and will close on 26 January 2021. This second round offers grants of between £10,000 and £3m to support organisations, including faith organisations that manage listed places of worship, with the costs to make the transition towards full reopening, covering the period April-June 2021. The focus of the fund is on re-opening and welcoming people back – whether visitors, communities or commercial partners. For details, full advice and application form go to https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/responding-coronavirus-covid-19
Any grants awarded will have to be spent by the end of June 2021. Previous applicants to the CRF for Heritage – both successful and unsuccessful - can apply.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is hosting free webinars on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 January to discuss the Culture Recovery Fund's criteria and to answer any queries you might have. Parishes can register at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/culture-recovery-heritage-fund/culture-recovery-fund-for-heritage-webinar/e-mpakpv
The Church Buildings Council has produced guidance for churches intending to apply for the scheme. The guidance is intended to draw out the potential for funding proposals for churches and to draw attention to the areas that are most likely to lead to successful grant applications. All listed places of worship are eligible to apply. The emphasis is on enabling people with listed buildings to be ready to share them with the community when we are able to. The church does not have to be one that is specifically or primarily considered a tourist or visitor destination.
The CBC guidance is available at https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/Guidance_for_CRF2.pdf
The Church Buildings Team can also offer some support to parishes who are seeking to apply. Please contact either Gill Elliott Gill.Elliott@LeicesterCofE.org or Simon Headley Simon.Headley@LeicesterCofE.org