NASACRE is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Grant Funding Agreement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to deliver a national project focused on the analysis of SACRE annual reports and their contribution to social cohesion.
Under the agreement, MHCLG has awarded funding to support SACRE Annual Report Analysis during 2026–27. The project will enable NASACRE to undertake a comprehensive analysis of annual reports submitted by SACREs across England and provide government with a clearer understanding of the role SACREs play in supporting cohesive, resilient and inclusive communities.
The funding follows a successful proposal submitted by NASACRE and will support a range of activities over the coming year. These include refining the SACRE annual reporting template in partnership with MHCLG, developing guidance and training for SACREs, encouraging report submissions, analysing the reports received, and publishing a national analysis report in spring 2027.
The project builds on themes identified in the Government’s Protecting What Matters agenda, which highlighted the value of understanding how SACREs contribute to social cohesion within local communities. Through this work, NASACRE will help identify examples of effective practice, highlight activities that support social cohesion, and provide evidence that can inform future policy development.
As part of the programme, NASACRE will work with MHCLG to enhance annual reporting arrangements so that SACREs can more effectively demonstrate:
- Activities that promote social cohesion and good community relations;
- Examples of successful local initiatives that could be shared nationally;
- Information relating to local authority support for SACREs;
- The capacity and contribution of local authority officers supporting SACRE work; and
- Other evidence relevant to understanding the impact of SACREs in their local areas.
SACREs should expect to see a revised template for Annual Reports, maintaining much of what has previously been included, with new sections on social cohesion. there will be clear guidance on how to complete the report from NASACRE. As part of this NASACRE will be putting on a free webinar on 20th October 2026, 7-8pm for those who are responsible for completing the Annual Report. SACREs will need to work towards submitting their Annual Report by the deadline of 31st December to allow for the analysis to be carried out in a timely manner.
The project’s ultimate outcome will be the publication of a national analysis report that provides government with evidence of how SACREs support religious education, collective worship and wider social cohesion across England. The findings will also be shared with the SACRE community through NASACRE’s conference and communications channels.
Bill Moore, NASACRE Chair, said:
“We are delighted to have secured this funding from MHCLG. The project recognises the important work undertaken by SACREs across England and will provide an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate their contribution to social cohesion, religious education and community engagement. We look forward to working closely with MHCLG and SACREs across the country to deliver valuable evidence that will strengthen understanding of this important area of public life.”
The Grant Funding Agreement was formally issued by MHCLG on 19 June 2026 and accepted by NASACRE, marking the start of a new partnership aimed at strengthening the evidence base for SACREs’ work and ensuring that their contribution to local communities is more widely understood and recognised.