Some places of worship are struggling against permanent closure because of financial strains posed by coronavirus. Hindu, Muslim and Sikh organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about a dramatic reduction in their income with some small temples in Southampton, Crawley and Wales now being on the verge of closure.
Places of worship have been unable to celebrate religious events as usual and most of them usually depend upon on contributions made from in-person visits or from philanthropic donations made by community members. Under normal circumstances, the Shree Ram Mandir receives £7,000 on the week of the religious festival of Diwali. However, according to reports, due to the imposition of the national lockdown in November last year, the temple received only £1,500. Such deep deductions often make it difficult for the maintenance of these places of worship besides the upkeep of their staff.
Similarly, the Sikh Council UK also revealed that all member Gurdwara Sahibs have reported an annual fall in income of between 50-75% in 2020. According to the Council 60% of members have expressed concerns that they do not have enough reserves to see them through another six months of lockdown. The Council's survey results further note, 94% of members reported a major decrease in annual income and 50% were unaware of available support. Most Gurdwaras rely on donations and payments for wedding and prayer services.
