The Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust has recently been awarded £50,000 by Allchurches Trust to help churches and chapels that wish to install a roof alarm.
The problem of lead and metal theft from churches has grown in recent years, including in Leicestershire. It causes communities great distress when the lead is stripped from the roof of their much loved church and this scheme offers £1,000 to each church that wants to install roof protection. Already, five churches have been awarded a roof alarm grant of under the scheme – and it has only been going for one month!
Allchurches Trust, who fund the scheme, is one of the UK’s largest grant-making charities and gave £15.6 million to churches, charities and communities in 2017. Its funds come from its ownership of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.
Jeremy Noles, Grants Officer at Allchurches Trust, said: “When a church or chapel suffers from metal theft, the implications can be far-reaching. As well as being costly to repair and replace, damage to the roof and exterior can cause weather damage and flooding that could impact on the community activities that happen inside the building. We’re delighted to be able to offer funding for Leicestershire’s churches to install roof alarms, keeping them protected and open for business.”
To find out more about the scheme and how to apply, contact Vicki Dolphin, Grants Administrator for The Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust by emailing vicki.dolphin.lcht@gmail.com