Deadline: 13-Apr-23
The Baring Foundation is pleased to launch a new round of funding for organisations undertaking legal action to address racial injustice in the criminal justice system.
The Strengthening Civil Society (SCS) programme supports the effective use of the law and human rights-based approaches by civil society in the UK. The Foundation sees the law and human rights based approaches as important tools for civil society. They can provide a means to directly tackle the discrimination and disadvantage faced by vulnerable individuals and communities.
There are many great examples of organisations who have used these tools effectively. However, use of the law and human rights-based approaches is far from consistent across civil society and many organisations see no link between these tools and their purpose, strategy, and activities, or are wary of using them. This programme aims to boost engagement and support organisations within the sector to make better use of the law and human rights in their work.
The primary focus is on social change activities that tackle discrimination and disadvantage. By social change Foundation means:
- Changes in policy, regulation and law;
- Changes in behaviour, attitudes, and norms; and
- New ways of designing and delivering services or support for individuals.
Purpose
This funding will support all types of legal action, whether that action seeks to empower, persuade, challenge, or use a mix of all three. Examples of the type of work Foundation anticipates funding under this call include (but are not limited to).
- Undertaking legal research to gather evidence relating to practices in the CJS;
- Challenging governmental policy decisions and practice through Judicial Review;
- Training for people impacted by the CJS on their rights; and
- Implementation activities for wins already achieved through legal action.
Funding Information
- The Foundation will award grants of up to £50,000 for up to 18 months.
- Grants can be used for all activities related to legal action, including staff time, supervision, and overheads. It can also cover external costs (such as legal advice) or campaigning activities. The Foundation know the approach you set out in your application may need to change and Foundation will be as flexible as possible to support you to take the best approach towards your objectives.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply to this fund, applicants need to:
- Be an anti-racist organisation or have a demonstrable history of working on anti-racism;
- Have a registered office in the North of England and undertake activity for the benefit of communities in the North of England. The North of England refers to the North East, the North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber;
- Already be undertaking legal action activities to address racial injustice in the CJS or be able to demonstrate pre-existing plans for doing so;
- Be planning to undertake activities under the grant which delivers benefit in the UK (applications for international work will not be considered);
- Be a legally registered not-for-profit entity in the UK, preferably a charity;
- Have at least one full year’s accounts; and
- Have an income of under £1m a year.
For more information, visit Baring Foundation.