Guidance

Muslim War Memorial: prospectus

Published 27 May 2026

Applies to England

Grant summary

Purpose

Muslims made a critical, yet often overlooked contribution to the defence of this country during both World Wars, with an estimated 400,000 serving during the First World War alone. Their courage, sacrifice and steadfast commitment helped secure the freedoms we all enjoy today.

MHCLG is pleased to provide funding to support the creation of a permanent, public and accessible memorial to honour this service. The memorial will offer a dedicated space for learning and reflection, helping current and future generations to understand and value the pivotal role that Muslim communities have played in shaping our shared history.

Type of grant

Competed

Who can apply

The grant is open to applications from public, private, and voluntary sector organisations operating in England.

Funding available

Up to a total of £950,000 capital funding. We will initially offer up to £150,000 in financial year 2026/27 and £800,000 in financial year 2027/28.

Up to a total of £20,000 revenue funding. We will initially offer up to £10,000 in financial year 2026/27 and £10,000 in financial year 2027/28.

Please note that funding beyond the 2026/27 financial year is subject to the availability of funds and confirmation through MHCLG’s future budget allocations.

Important dates

Applications open: 10 June 2026

Deadline for applications: 21 July 2026

Funding awarded: October 2026 (indicative date)

Introduction

Muslims played a critical, but often under‑appreciated, role in defending this country during both World Wars. Serving across multiple theatres of conflict, Muslim soldiers fought with courage, with many sacrificing their lives to help secure the freedoms that shape Britain today. It is estimated that at least 400,000 Muslim soldiers fought in the First World War alone, with many more contributing across both global conflicts. Their commitment and bravery form a vital part of our national story.

This prospectus sets out the government’s plans to fund the creation of a permanent, prominent and publicly accessible Muslim War Memorial. The memorial will serve as a lasting tribute to the men and women who stood in defence of this country during some of its most difficult moments. It will provide a dedicated space for reflection and commemoration, ensuring that current and future generations can learn about and honour this remarkable legacy of service.

By supporting the establishment of this memorial, the government aims to foster greater recognition of the contributions made by Muslim communities to this country, strengthen social cohesion and celebrate the shared sacrifices that unite us.

Grant objectives

• deliver a high-quality, permanent memorial which commemorates the Muslims who fought and lost their lives serving in the British Armed Forces during the First and Second World Wars
• increase public awareness of the contributions made by Muslims to this country during the World Wars, while also highlighting the role of other faiths and ethnicities
• encourage reflection among people of all backgrounds, faiths, and ethnicities on the shared sacrifices made during the two World Wars
• ensure recognition and honour for Muslim communities, including armed forces veterans, their families, and descendants, so their sacrifices are acknowledged and valued

Who can apply – in detail

To apply for this grant, your organisation must operate in England, deliver all funded activities within England and be one of the following:

• an organisation registered as a charity with the Charity Commission
• a charitable incorporated organisation registered with Companies House and the Charity Commission
• a company limited by guarantee registered with Companies House
• a Community Interest Company registered with Companies House
• a public sector organisation, such as a local authority
• please note that in the case of joint or consortium application, the above requirements are applicable only to the Lead Applicant

Those who are not eligible to apply for funding include:

• individuals
• profit-distributing organisations including companies limited by shares, organisations that distribute surpluses to owners, shareholders or members, any entity whose governing documents permit profit distribution

Before awarding any funding, we will carry out due diligence checks on all shortlisted applicants as part of our standard procedures. You must be applying for funding to deliver a Muslim War Memorial located in England.

You must expect to complete the memorial project no later than 31 December 2028. Applications submitted by consortia will be equally considered and one organisation should be clearly identified as the lead applicant. The lead applicant must take overall responsibility for managing the grant, coordinating project delivery, and ensuring compliance with all funding requirements. All consortium members must demonstrate a clear and defined role within the project.

Funding available

Up to £970,000 will be available for the successful applicant, comprising up to £950,000 capital funding and £20,000 revenue funding. It is anticipated that a single grant award will be made.

Breakdown of Funding

Financial Year 2026 to 2027:

Up to £150,000 capital funding and £10,000 revenue funding will be available.

Financial Year 2027 to 2028:

Up to £800,000 capital funding and £10,000 revenue funding will be available.

It is anticipated that the funding will be available from October 2026.

Please note that the funding amounts outlined in this prospectus are only indicative.

Final allocations may vary according to the strength and quality of applications received, as well as the overall budget available for the programme.

Please note that funding beyond the 2026/27 financial year is subject to the availability of funds and confirmation through MHCLG’s future budget allocations.

Funding will be provided either through regular instalments or a combination of advance and stage payments. MHCLG will agree the payment arrangements with the successful applicant, and these will be set out in the funding agreement.

Eligible costs under the £950,000 capital funding allocation include:

• design fees
• planning fees
• site acquisition costs
• preparatory site works costs
• memorial construction and installation costs
• consultancy fees (including project management services, art consultancy services)

Eligible costs under the £20,000 revenue funding allocation include:

• publicity and communications relevant to the delivery of the memorial
• community and stakeholder engagement events to ensure that key groups and the wider public are kept informed and engaged during the delivery of the memorial

Ineligible costs include:

• expenditure incurred prior to written confirmation of the award of funding
• memorial maintenance costs following the installation of the memorial, including payments to endowment funds for the maintenance of the memorial
• salary costs of staff employed by the Grant Recipient and Delivery Partners (if applicable) to deliver the project
• revenue costs related to the unveiling event for the memorial

Assessment criteria

We will carry out an initial review of all applications to ensure that the following basic eligibility criteria are met before initiating a full assessment:

• the applicant meets the eligibility criteria specified in the Who can apply-in detail section of this prospectus
• the applicant has agreed to notify us of any potential, actual, or perceived conflicts of interest in writing
• the applicant has answered YES to all the questions in the Declaration section of this prospectus
• the applicant has requested a grant of £970,000 or lower (This comprises up to £950,000 capital and £20,000 revenue funding)

Applications will then be assessed against 7 criteria. Your application will either pass or fail each scored criteria. The application form will ask you about:

1. Location - Explain how you will provide a secure site for the memorial and ensure it is easy for a wide and diverse range of people to visit. The memorial should help bring communities together.
2. Design - Describe how you will make sure the memorial’s design is supported by the public, especially by Muslim communities and the armed forces community.
3. Stakeholder engagement and social outcomes - Set out how you will work with key stakeholders and maintain their confidence throughout the project. Explain how you will raise public awareness of the contributions made by Muslims and other minority faiths in the World Wars, and how you will measure progress against the social outcomes listed in the Grant objectives.
4. Delivery - Provide clear evidence that you have the skills, strong planning, and processes needed to deliver the memorial on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
5. Exit Plan and arrangements - Explain the long-term ownership arrangements and how the memorial will be maintained.
6. Costs and funding - Explain how you will ensure value for money and provide robust and realistic plans for both costs and funding.
7. Management and governance - Describe the management, procurement, monitoring, risk and financial management structures, systems and processes that you will put in place.

MHCLG and ministers reserve the right to vary these conditions, and the right not to make an award, and either withdraw or reduce the funding to the grant recipient if reasonably required.

Section 1: Additional eligibility

This section is not assessed but will determine eligibility for the award.

We will ask for confirmation of:

• organisation type
• conflicts of interest information
• Grant Funding requested

Section 2: Applicant/organisation details

This section is not assessed but will determine eligibility for the award.

We will ask for:

• basic details on the lead delivery organisation and any delivery partners including contact information, lead contact, address etc

Section 3: Project details

This section is not assessed but will help determine eligibility for the award.

We will ask for:

• the project name
• proposed start date
• proposed end date

Section 4: Project proposal summary

This section is not assessed but will help us to understand your overall vision for the memorial.

We will ask you to:

• outline how you propose to meet the Grant objectives set out in the Prospectus

Section 5: Location

This section is assessed and carries an overall weighting of 20%.

We will ask you to:

• confirm the proposed location and explain how you plan to secure the memorial site and obtain planning permission
• provide confidence that the proposed site will be secure, support accessibility and create opportunities for diverse communities to come together
• outline how you have engaged, or plan to engage, with key stakeholders during the site selection process, including representatives of the Muslim community, the British Armed Forces, and local residents

Section 6: Design

This section is assessed and carries an overall weighting of 15%.

We will ask you to:

• explain how you will ensure public support for the memorial design
• describe how you will select an appropriate artist to design the memorial

Section 7: Stakeholder engagement and social outcomes

This section is assessed and carries an overall weighting of 15%.

We will ask you to:

• explain how you will engage with the public and key stakeholders during the delivery of the memorial. This should cover engagement activities beyond those relating to the selection of the design and site, as these are addressed in earlier questions
• explain how you will deliver the following social outcomes which are also listed in the Grant objectives section of this prospectus:
  • increase public awareness of the contributions made by Muslims to this country during the World Wars, while also highlighting the role of other faiths and ethnicities
  • encourage reflection among people of all backgrounds, faiths, and ethnicities on the shared sacrifices made during the World Wars
  • ensure recognition and honour for Muslim communities, including armed forces veterans, their families, and descendants, so their sacrifices are acknowledged and valued

This might include events, workshops, and the production of educational or publicity material.

Section 8: Delivery

This section is assessed and carries an overall weighting of 15%.

We will ask you to:

• demonstrate your experience and capability to successfully deliver the memorial project
• provide a project organogram, setting out key roles, responsibilities and reporting lines
• provide a comprehensive plan for the delivery of the memorial, supported by a detailed explanation
• provide assurance that robust provisions are in place to ensure the long-term security, preservation, and maintenance of the memorial
• provide assurance that appropriate measures are in place to assess, manage, and mitigate the project’s environmental effects
• demonstrate how you will ensure full compliance with the Equality Act 2010 throughout the development and delivery of the memorial

Section 9: Exit plan and arrangements

This section is assessed and carries an overall weighting of 10%.

We will ask you to:

• confirm who will assume ownership of the memorial after it has been built
• explain how the long-term maintenance and upkeep of the memorial will be assured

Section 10: Costs and funding

This section is assessed and carries an overall weighting of 10%.

We will ask you to:

• provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed project costs and associated funding sources
• explain how you have developed credible project expenditure forecasts
• demonstrate how you will ensure that the project delivers value for money
• explain how you will manage project cash flow, secure match funding and outline the measures in place to address any potential cost overruns

Section 11: Management and governance

This section is assessed and carries an overall weighting of 15%.

We will ask you to:

• describe the management, procurement, risk, and financial management systems that will be implemented throughout the delivery of the project
• ensure that all project procurement is carried out in full compliance with the relevant regulations
• explain how you will manage and monitor the performance of all delivery partners

Section 12: Attachment checklist

This section is not assessed but will help ensure you have included the requested documents.

We will ask you to confirm the following are attached:

• memorial design documents - Optional
• project organogram - Mandatory
• evidence of previously successfully delivered projects - Optional
• project plan -Mandatory
• costs and funding tables- Mandatory

Section 13: Declaration

We will ask you to declare that:

• all information provided is correct
• that your organisation and any consortium members will not make a profit from the activities supported by grant funding
• comply with the monitoring and reporting requirements set out in the Grant Funding Agreement
• that your organisation will identify in writing any potential, actual or perceived conflicts of interest
• that grant funding will not be used for the purposes of supporting extremist causes, undertaking political activity, or facilitating exclusively religious activity

Timeline

10 June 2026: Application window opens

21 July 2026: Application window closes

30 October 2026: Organisations notified of application outcome and funding awarded to successful applicant – approximate date

Roles and responsibilities

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will:

• assess bids against the published assessment criteria
• notify bidders of funding decisions. Unsuccessful applicants may request their scores and an explanation of the outcome; however, no additional feedback will be provided
• provide funding as agreed in the Grant Funding Agreement
• work with the Grant Recipient to produce and deliver an agreed communications plan for the project
• lead the delivery of the memorial opening event, working closely with the Grant Recipient
• promote and publicise key milestones in the delivery of the site, which might include:
  • launch of the competition to select the artist
  • announcement of the winning artist and selected design
  • ground-breaking ceremony
  • confirmation of the memorial opening ceremony date

If successful, you must:

• enter into a grant funding agreement with MHCLG based on the standard Cabinet Office template and your funding application and adhere to its conditions
• be accountable for the delivery of a Muslim War Memorial, including:
  • identifying and securing a suitable site
  • designing the memorial
  • constructing and installing the memorial
  • putting in place arrangements for long-term maintenance and security
• procure and manage all suppliers needed for delivery of the memorial
• ensure that all procurement activities undertaken for the project adhere to all applicable regulatory requirements
• deliver the project within the agreed budget and timeframes
• deliver events and activities to increase awareness of the contribution of Muslims and other minority faiths to this country during the World Wars
• work with MHCLG on the production and delivery of the communications plan
• be willing to engage with stakeholders and project ambassadors identified by MHCLG during the delivery of the project
• comply with the monitoring and reporting requirements set out in the Grant Funding Agreement
• co-operate with MHCLG’s due diligence processes
• provide evidence of project expenditure when requested
• comply with the Subsidy Control Act 2022
• comply with the Equality Act 2010

Apply for funding

Applications must be submitted through the government’s Apply for a Grant service.

A link to the funding advert and online application form will be accessible via the Apply here button from 10 June 2026.

If you would like to be notified when the application window opens, you can register your interest by emailing MWM@communities.gov.uk before 10 June 2026. Registered organisations will receive an email notification with a direct link to the funding advert and application form.

For any other questions about this funding opportunity, please contact MWM@communities.gov.uk