The government has allocated £2 million to the National Heritage Memorial Fund to support the repair and conservation of local war memorials across the United Kingdom. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed the grant on 9 November 2025, coinciding with Remembrance Sunday.
The National Heritage Memorial Fund will administer the funding with partners including War Memorials Trust and Historic England. The funder has said detailed programme guidance-covering eligibility, application routes and award levels-will be set out in 2026, and applications are not yet open.
For custodians, parish councils and community groups, the practical route today remains the existing War Memorials Trust grant scheme. The charity funds conservation‑led repair across the UK, with typical awards around 50% of eligible costs; current guidance indicates maximum offers generally up to £5,000 for non‑freestanding memorials and up to £20,000 for freestanding, non‑beneficiary memorials, subject to need and available funds.
War Memorials Trust prioritises projects using condition information logged on the public database War Memorials Online. Submissions flagged as ‘Poor’ or ‘Very bad’ prompt investigation by the Trust, so applicants should record accurate condition updates and upload clear photographs to support any approach for advice or funding.
The Trust runs decision rounds through the year. The 2025 timetable closed on 31 October; applicants should check the charity’s website for 2026 deadlines and use the pre‑application stage to test eligibility before preparing a full bid.
A separate government scheme refunds the VAT element of eligible memorial works. The Memorial Grant Scheme is open to registered charities and excepted faith groups; local authorities are not eligible. Claims are retrospective and assessed quarterly, with the current review deadline at 23:55 on Wednesday 31 December 2025.
Before commissioning works, confirm statutory consents. Listed memorials will usually require Listed Building Consent for changes affecting special interest, while scheduled sites need Scheduled Monument Consent. Places of worship may also require denominational permissions in addition to local authority consent; early engagement with the planning authority and Historic England is advised.
For proposals involving demolition of statues, monuments or memorials installed for at least ten years, local planning authorities must notify the Secretary of State if they do not intend to refuse permission and consult Historic England where relevant. This sits alongside any listing or scheduling controls.
Delivery partners operate across the UK. In Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland funds War Memorials Trust’s national programme via its Partnership Fund; in Wales, Cadw provides capital grants for ancient monuments; in Northern Ireland, the Historic Environment Division offers small grants through the Historic Environment Fund. Applicants should align projects with the relevant nation’s guidance alongside the forthcoming NHMF scheme.
To prepare a compliant bid, assemble a recent condition assessment, photographs, a conservation‑led specification and competitive quotations. War Memorials Trust expects transparent procurement and value for money-often two or three quotes depending on project size-and recommends engaging conservation‑accredited professionals where appropriate.
Eligible works typically include conservation, like‑for‑like repair, structural stabilisation and professional surveys. Routine maintenance and basic cleaning are normally ineligible for grant support; inappropriate cleaning methods can permanently damage stone and inscriptions, so seek specialist advice before commissioning cleaning.
Next steps for custodians: monitor NHMF announcements for 2026 programme criteria and timelines; keep War Memorials Online records up to date to evidence need; pursue War Memorials Trust grants where eligible; and consider the VAT Memorial Grant where charity or faith‑group status applies.