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GrantUK-wide

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS)

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Description

Confirmed via an October 2026 research pass: this UK-wide scheme — which let listed places of worship reclaim the VAT (usually 20%) paid on repairs and maintenance — closed to new applications at 23:59 on 31 March 2026, with the final (2025/26) financial year's £23 million budget fully allocated and all award decisions finalised. Around 60% of all listed places of worship in the UK used it at least once over the preceding decade. It has been replaced in England only by the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund; Scotland has since launched its own much smaller pilot fund; Wales and Northern Ireland currently have no dedicated successor at all. See the replacement entries in this directory, and the editorial page at /places-of-worship-grant-scheme-ended, for the full picture.

Amount

Reclaimed the VAT paid on eligible repairs and maintenance (typically 20%); final year's (2025/26) budget was £23 million — scheme has now closed to new applications

Deadline

31 March 2026

Eligibility summary

  • Available across the whole UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
  • Most relevant to: Charity & Nonprofit.
Notes
Was open to listed buildings in use as places of worship, of any faith or denomination, anywhere in the UK. Scheme has now closed — kept here for reference only; do not treat as live.

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How to apply

This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2026 and will not reopen. In England, look for the Places of Worship Renewal Fund instead. In Scotland, see Scotland's Places of Worship Fund (a much smaller 2026/27 pilot). Wales and Northern Ireland currently have no dedicated replacement — see this directory's editorial page on the closure for sources and alternatives such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

View official source

Last verified: 3 October 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.