Protective Security for Faith Communities Scheme

Other protective security schemes are available for Jewish and Muslim communities. Free Faith Security Training is also available for faith communities across England and Wales.

This scheme was previously called the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme. Its name has changed to make it clearer which places of worship and associated faith community centres can apply.

The name change does not affect the eligibility criteria, the support available or how applications are assessed. Existing applicants do not need to take any action.

The application portal is currently open.

The Protective Security for Faith Communities Scheme helps eligible faith communities improve security at places of worship and associated faith community centres that are vulnerable to hate crime.

The scheme is designed to reduce vulnerability to hate crime by funding practical protective security measures. These measures are recommended following a security assessment by experts and are installed at no cost for the site by the scheme’s delivery supplier or their approved subcontractors.

A hate crime is a criminal offence that is motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity, or because the offender believes they have one of these characteristics. Any type of crime can be a hate crime, including threats, harassment, criminal damage or violence.

For the purpose of this scheme, we will largely consider incidents that are potentially motivated by religion and race.

You can apply if your site is in England or Wales and is one of the following:

An associated faith community centre must be linked to a place of worship and regularly used by the faith community for worship.

You must host active worship at your site, which members of the public can attend, to be eligible for the scheme.

be exempt from registering as a charity. If you are exempt, you must be able to provide evidence of your charitable status or exemption