Applying for a grant

Relief grants are made to individuals through an approved third party - a 'referral agency'. We work with a large number of human rights organisations, refugee groups, solicitors and organisations in the UK and overseas, from large NGOs to small refugee community organisations.

Detailed application forms are completed by the referral agency on behalf of the applicant. The application is then considered by a sub-committee of trustees of PoC, with advice from the office.

If you would like to apply for funds for yourself or anyone else please contact the Grants Officer.

The Prisoners of Conscience Appeal Fund provides grants to individuals and families who have been persecuted for the non-violent expression of their conscientiously-held beliefs. We do not help anyone who has used or advocated violence.

Please read our guidelines carefully.

The applications are considered by a sub-committee of Trustees. If approved, the cheque is then sent to the referral agency to administer on behalf of the beneficiary. All cheques that are sent to the referral agency are accompanied by a receipt which has on it the beneficiary's name and a reference number. The receipt must be signed by the beneficiary and returned to us as soon as possible.

The process described above, from receipt of application to approval of grant and cheque sent out to agency, takes about ten to fifteen working days. All information is handled in the strictest confidence.