Grant News
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) is now accepting applications to its Rights and Justice funding programme. The programme supports organisations across the UK that work to protect human rights and address deep-rooted inequality.
It funds work that protects human rights, helps people access the legal system, and promotes racial and religious equality. The Trust is especially interested in projects that
- tackle discrimination built into systems and institutions,
- help refugees and migrants understand and claim their rights,
- strengthen communities so they can speak up for themselves,
- and influence national policy or public debate.
Funding can support advocacy, campaigning, research, test court cases aimed at changing the law, partnership work, and other activities focused on long-term change. It is less likely to fund projects that only provide direct services, such as advice or support, without seeking wider impact.
Examples of work that can be support include:
- Trans-led community building and organising which advances human rights or relieves charitable needs of the trans+ community
- Advocacy and campaigning for trans+ rights and/or the charitable needs of the trans+ community within wider civil society
- Infrastructure development to strengthen sustainable charitable work for the trans+ community
- Strategic litigation on charitable issues impacting trans+ communities
- Popular awareness-raising, education and community-based training on trans+ histories and rights.
UK-based organisations and, in some cases, individuals can apply, as long as the work qualifies as charitable under UK law and benefits the public. You do not need to be a registered charity to apply, but your work must meet the legal definition of charitable activity in the UK.
Grant amounts vary. In the past, awards have ranged from around £5,000 for smaller projects to more than £100,000 for larger, multi-year work, depending on the size and scale of the project.
The programme usually runs two funding rounds each year, with deadlines in March and September. The next closing date for applications is 2 March 2026.
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