Durkan calls on local church groups to take advantage of £15million grant scheme

Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund is a one off grant scheme administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) at Westminster.

Mark H Durkan said: “This is a tremendous boost for our listed places of worship. We are very fortunate to have some very attractive listed church buildings locally, but many need urgent repairs to roofs and guttering.

“I have already brought this good news to the attention of the local church umbrella groups. I would encourage them to take advantage of this funding opportunity, especially given the pressures on our budgets.

“This grant scheme will benefit not only worshippers but the many people here who appreciate and want to sustain our unique built heritage.”

Organisations, trusts and congregations of all faiths and denominations can apply for a grant from £10,000 to £100,000 to meet the costs of urgent repairs. Applications have to be submitted by 30 January 2015.

The fund is administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF). For more information visit the NHMF website at www.lpowroof.org.uk/