What we fund
War Memorials Trust manages a number of grant schemes across the UK which can support repair and conservation works. This page outlines the type of works that can be funded as well as what cannot be assisted. The helpsheet What we can and cannot fund provides further details. Please note the criteria are currently being reviewed, as the funding available to the charity is falling, so this may change.
Please read this page and the What we can and cannot fund helpsheet carefully to identify if your project is eligible. If you are not sure if your project is eligible then read Submit your Grants Pre-application which provides further information. If you feel your project is eligible you should then read the section Apply for a grant and ensure you follow the guidance laid out. Providing all the information requested throughout the process will help the charity to consider your request for a grant in a timely and fair way.
As we are a small charity, with the equivalent of two Conservation Officers to provide Technical Advice to potentially 100,000 war memorials in the UK, please be aware that the grant process will take time.
Amount of funding available
Please note that whilst works may be eligible for funding this does not guarantee that a grant will be made. Grants are made from money available to the charity at the time of an assessment round. This money comes from donations or specific grant schemes. Funds may not be sufficient to meet all applications. Decisions about which projects are awarded grants are based on need and priority of works as assessed by a Grants Panel formed of WMT staff with WMT's Board of Trustees having ultimate responsibility for decisions made. In some cases consultation with grant scheme funders is also undertaken. Details of funding levels can be found on the Grants page.
Types of works we can fund
- Conservation
- Like-for-like repair
- Structural repair/stabilisation
- Reinstatement of lost elements that form an integral part of the design
- Professional condition surveys and structural reports
For further details read the helpsheets Definition of a war memorial for funding purposes and What we can and cannot fund.
All the grant schemes administered by WMT follow best conservation practice. The principles behind our conservation approach can be found in our helpsheet Conservation principles. This summarises the approaches we follow and the type of works that can be funded. Further information on best conservation practice and sources of advice can be found below.
You can also use our Grants Showcase to see examples of projects previously funded. This can be searched in a number of ways to find projects by location, grant value, type of memorial or type of work.
Types of work we cannot fund
- New war memorials
- Maintenance
- Inappropriate work or methods
- Relocation, unless the memorial is ‘at risk’ or inaccessible - this needs to be a choice of last resort
- Works to graves of any type
- Applications to multiple schemes administered by the Trust for the same work
- Where the work has already started or been completed
For further details read the helpsheets Definition of a war memorial for funding purposes and What we can and cannot fund.
Best conservation practice
The principle behind what can be funded by War Memorials Trust is best conservation practice. There is a range of advice available to you to ensure works undertaken follow best conservation practice. A selection of advice from WMT and the national heritage bodies is provided below which you may want to consult through your project or direct any contractors you deal with towards to ensure they understand that they will need to follow best conservation practice.
WMT can advise you on best conservation practice at any point - just contact us.
- WMT helpsheets: WMT has a range of helpsheets and advice on conservation available on the website
- Cadw - Caring for War Memorials in Wales and Caring for War Memorials in Wales - technical guidance
- Historic England - The Conservation, Repair and Management of War Memorials
- Historic Environment Scotland - The repair and maintenance of war memorials