The Strategic Legal Fund (SLF) provides grants to support strategic legal work that is carried out in the UK and where the impact is likely to go beyond an individual case and result in changes to law, policy and practice that will benefit a wider group of people.
This year SLF has widened its focus from benefiting vulnerable young migrants to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants who are facing poverty and who face significant disadvantage or discrimination in connection with their immigration status.
Applications will be considered from:
- Not-for-profit organisations that provide specialist level legal advice to people discriminated or disadvantaged by their migration status.
- Firms of solicitors that provide specialist level legal advice to people discriminated or disadvantaged by their migration status. Firms need to demonstrate that the funded work does not include any element of profit and there is a pro bono element included.
The maximum grant for any one application is £30,000, however, groups are encouraged to apply for lesser amounts. The average grant size is around £12,000. The maximum grant length is 12 months, though most grants are for six months or less.
The funding will cover 'any reasonable revenue costs' that are incurred to undertake proposed pre-litigation research or to prepare third party intervention. This includes temporary staffing, freeing up or extending existing staff hours, volunteer expenses, travel and subcontracting with other voluntary and community organisations.
Applicants should check the list of previous SLF grants to make sure their proposal does not duplicate any existing work.
How To Apply
The deadline for applications to the new funding rounds are 5pm on:
- 4 May 2021
- 1 July 2021
- 1 September 2021
- 2 November 2021
SLF published new guidelines in March 2021. These should be consulted before starting the application form.
Guidelines and an application form can be found on the ILPA website.
Applicants are 'strongly encouraged' to discuss their proposal with the SLF Project Manager before submitting their application form.
Useful Links
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Claire Tindale
Project Manager
Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association
Lindsey House
40 - 42 Charterhouse Street
London
EC1M 6JN
Email: [email protected]