Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support a) Christian, b) Muslim and c) Jewish communities in i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and ii) Staffordshire; and if he will visit Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The government offers many sources of support to faith and belief groups.

MHCLG has allocated £515,000 this year to fund the Near Neighbours programme in England, run by the Church Urban Fund, which connects diverse communities to build trust and collaborate on local projects.

The government recognises the role and value of religious heritage buildings and the new £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund will bring support for these important buildings into line with other heritage assets.

For security support, all faith communities can access the Home Office’s free Faith Security Training scheme, developed with police and faith leaders to strengthen security awareness and preparedness in England and Wales. The Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme will receive an additional £1.5 million, raising funding to £5 million for Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and other non-Jewish or Muslim faith sites.

To support Muslim communities specifically, the government funds the British Muslim Trust to monitor anti-Muslim hatred and support victims. In 2026/27, up to £40 million will be available through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme for mosques, Muslim schools, and community centres.

To support Jewish communities specifically, on 17 December 2025 the Government published a paper setting out recent actions to combat antisemitism. Further information is available here. In addition, up to £28.4 million will be available in 2026/27 through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, which is managed by the Community Security Trust (CST), for security measures at synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres.

The Common Ground Resilience Fund is granting more than £3 million to support social cohesion and resilience in England. This includes the Common Ground Award which provides capital for infrastructure and equipment, and is open to voluntary groups and community organisations, including faith-based groups.

The Secretary of State engages with communities across the country through a range of ministerial activity, including visits and meetings with local representatives.