The UK government has announced a new initiative to help tackle the growing problem of anti-Muslim hate across the country. The Combatting Hatred Against Muslims Fund will support efforts to monitor hate incidents and provide help to those affected by Islamophobia.

This fund is being launched by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with strong support from Lord Khan of Burnley, Minister for Faith.

The Combatting Hatred Against Muslims Fund is aimed at organisations, including Islamic organisations that can:

• Monitor and report anti-Muslim hate incidents accurately across England
• Support victims of hate crime, including helping them report incidents
• Raise awareness of what hate crime is and how to respond to it
• Work with national and local partners, such as government bodies, faith groups, and community organisations

The fund is specifically designed for community organisations that have experience or capacity in community outreach, hate crime awareness, victim support, and building community cohesion.

Applications for the fund open on 7 April 2025 and will close on 18 May 2025 at 11:59pm. Both individual organisations and groups working together can apply to run this important programme. For the 2025/26 year, up to £650,000 will be available, rising to £1 million a year in 2026/27 and 2027/28.

In recent years, hate crimes against Muslims have been on the rise. Police data shows that nearly two in every five religious hate crimes in the UK target Muslims, which is a 13% increase from the previous year.

The fund will not only help collect data on hate crimes but will also focus on educating people about what hate crime is. It will encourage victims to report what they go through and offer them the support they need.

Mosques and Islamic community organisations can use the Combatting Hatred Against Muslims Fund to support their local communities by raising awareness about Islamophobia, helping victims report hate crimes, and offering emotional and practical support.

With the funding, mosques and Islamic community organisations can organise workshops, partner with local authorities, and train staff to support the Muslim community effectively.

Mosques and Islamic community organisations can play a key role in making the country safer for Muslims and the whole community alike, especially for vulnerable groups like women, the elderly, and young people. This also strengthens trust between Islamic community organisations and wider society, promoting unity and resilience.

More guidance on how to apply can be found below:

Combatting Hate Against Muslims fund: prospectus

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