Latest News Apply now: Places of Worship protective security funding scheme News from the Archdiocese Development Team Places of Worship (POW): protective security funding scheme – Final Round The Places of Worship (POW) protective security funding scheme is a government commitment in the 2016-2020 hate crime action plan. This scheme is intended to reduce the risk and impact of hate crime at places of worship and associated faith community centres. Full details can be found here The scheme provides funding for protective security measures such as CCTV, fencing, and intruder alarms, to places of worship and associated faith community centres that are vulnerable to hate crime. You can submit an application for the installation of up to three protective security measures from 4 June 2021 until 23:59 on 2 July 2021. We will not consider any applications received after this date. The maximum government funding available to any place of worship or associated faith community centre is £56,000 for the installation of the protective security measures. However, this does not include any costs associated with planning permissions or consents, and does not cover any preparatory work identified at survey stage to facilitate installation (such as clearing the grounds). The scheme only covers protective security measures and cannot be used to fund: • general building improvements• standard security upgrades• measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, lead theft, or other criminality unconnected with hate crime• security personnel/guarding• measures which have already been provided by third party installers This is a three-stage application process. Stage 1: gather evidence of your site’s vulnerability to hate crime To be eligible for funding, your application will need to demonstrate ‘evidence of experienced hate crimes and/or hate incidents, which demonstrate a vulnerability, and/or evidence of hate crime in your local area.’ You will need to provide evidence that your community is vulnerable at your place of worship to the kind of hate crime that targets people because of their religion and race. Stage 2: complete the application form online To apply for funding through the scheme, you will need to: • complete an online application• complete a hate crime overview form. The hate crime overview form should be used to detail any hate crimes / incidents you have experienced• For each incident, you should make clear:• what has happened• when it has happened• where it has happened• why you believe this is a hate crime/incident• the impact it has had on your site, upload evidence of your site’s vulnerability to hate crime (see Stage 1 above). Stage 3: site assessment and quotation If your application successfully demonstrates your vulnerability to hate crime, your application will progress to the next stage; a quotation assessment appointment. This appointment will involve a site assessment in order to determine the three most appropriate physical and/or electrical security measures that you may be offered under the scheme (if successful) that are in line with the DOCO recommendations and are proportionate to the risk. At this stage, if you are content with the proposal you will be required to indicate your intention to proceed. You should not undertake any installation works yourself or procure services from a third party to install such measures. The Home Office will contact applicants directly to notify them of the result of their application. If you need further support, in the first instance please follow the link and read through the guidance notes. If you then need any further support please contact either Steve Baylis [email protected] or if you church is a listed building, please contact Tom Stockwell, Listed Buildings Officer, [email protected] Manage Cookie Preferences