Deadline: 21-Feb-22
The Legal Education Foundation is pleased to launch an open call for Fairer Systems Programme: Transparency, Accountability and the Protection of Rights.
UK government institutions and the way public powers are exercised are evolving rapidly as a result of new technology and the constitutional changes brought about by leaving the EU. Change on this scale brings with it important questions about how people understand and use the law, and how key rule of law principles, such as transparency, accountability and fundamental rights, will be protected or enhanced by the reforms.
Focus Areas
Fairer Systems programme focuses on two linked issues:
- Constitutional, administrative and public law implications of the UK’s revised constitutional settlement following Brexit and emergency provisions in place to respond to Covid-19. They are particularly interested in work to increase the understanding of these changes to help ensure transparency, accountability and the protection of rights.
- Automated decision-making by government – ensuring that government digital systems, processes and its use of data are clear, fair, and protect people’s legal rights. They are particularly interested in the use of technology in relation to welfare benefits and immigration processes.
The Foundation will Fund
The Foundation will fund a range of activities across these two areas of focus, including:
- Work to inform, advise, and support policymakers and decision-makers.
- Co-ordination and networking between practitioners and organisations, including across sectors, to share learning and to increase effectiveness.
- Building civil society organisations’ wider skills and knowledge in relation to the two areas of focus
Characteristics
The Foundation values these characteristics in organisations:
- Strong connections with their communities, including in their staffing and governance.
- The capacity to advocate for their organisations and on behalf of their communities, including to participate in local and national policy influencing.
- A commitment to learning and evidence, including collecting good information on outcomes and taking a reflective approach to improving their own practice.
- Embedded in a diverse ecosystem of organisations, working collaboratively and with effective referral pathways that minimise the burdens on clients.
- High quality standards including legal expertise.
- Investment in staff well-being and are supportive, inclusive places to work.
- Diverse funding base including (where relevant) maximizing Legal Aid income through efficient billing practice.
- Good infrastructure including governance, ICT, financial management, accommodation and HR.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications to the main grants programmes are only accepted from legally constituted organisations undertaking charitable work in the UK. While the majority of grant recipients will be charities, they can also fund limited companies (including CICs) and private law firms for activities that advance TLEF’s charitable objects and are not profit-making.
- Applications can include all costs related to achieving the hoped-for outcomes, including staffing, volunteer expenses, consultancy, travel, venue hire and a reasonable contribution to overheads. They mostly fund revenue costs but can cover modest capital expenditure directly related to the work, such as a computer for a new staff member.
Exclusions
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The Foundation will not fund:
- Work that does not advance TLEF’s charitable objects
- Work that falls outside the Charity Commission guidance on campaigning and political activity
- Work that does not advance TLEF’s strategic objectives
- Work that has already taken place.
- Work that does not have a direct benefit in the UK.
- The provision of legal advice where it is not delivered as part of legal training.
- Projects related to commercial law.
- Awards, prizes or one-off events that are not part of a broader programme the Foundation is supporting.
- Projects where a TLEF grant would directly replace or subsidise government, legal profession or university funding, including the costs of law clinics.
- Infrastructure for pro bono legal advice.
- Capital expenditure on buildings and vehicles.
- General fundraising appeals.
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The Foundation is unlikely to fund:
- Organisations with fewer than three Trustees, company directors or partners.
- Organisations with more general reserves than stipulated in their reserves policy.
- Organisations that are in serious financial deficit.
- Small-scale projects without the capacity for system influence.
For more information, visit The Legal Education Foundation.
For more information, visit https://thelegaleducationfoundation.org/how-to-apply-for-a-grant/fairer-systems