Application Rounds and Funding Criteria

The deadline for applications to the October meeting is now past. The next grants round will be in March (or early April) and applications must be submitted by end of February

Statement of policy for 2012 grants

Trustees are keenly aware that cuts to funding are threatening closure of advice services throughout our catchment area. This will remain the case throughout 2012 and 2013.

We hope to maintain as many social welfare law services as possible through our “keeping the doors open” criterion which will be given greater emphasis in our considerations while retaining all of the existing criteria However we need to take into account the reality that some agencies will not be sustainable in the medium or long term. Grants will be targeted primarily at agencies that are striving to adapt to the reduced funding circumstances, especially those that are facing loss of legal aid income and to agencies proposing to offer services in areas where none are left after closures.

All agencies that currently receive substantial LSC funding should now have business plans and budgets running to at least the end of 2013. We will need to see those plans and budgets

We will also need to know from applicants what steps are being taken to adapt to the reduced funding. We will ask what reductions in costs are being made and what efforts are being made to generate sustainable new funding sources.

Where new fund generating schemes are proposed, Trustees will consider loans as well as grants and a mixture of both where appropriate

In an environment where rationalisation is necessary the trustees are likely to prioritise funding to those agencies and projects who have generated additional sustainability through sharing, rationalisation or merger arrangements".

Where agencies are proposing to share back office costs, or premises, or act in any type of consortium, we will, if a grant is going to be made by the Trust, be willing to fund individually, or through a lead agency

In addition to funding the agencies worst affected by cuts we will endeavour to assign some funds to maintain pro bono services as those will become even more important as core funding for the other services diminish.


General criteria

The Trust funds:

a.Voluntary sector legal agencies in London and the Home counties that employ solicitors or retain the services of solicitors as volunteers to provide free legal advice to poor or disadvantaged members the public.

b. Network organisations that support agencies in section a

The Trust does not fund:

a.Non charitable activity

b.Applications for general advice as opposed to specialist legal advice.


The Trust priorities in 2012/13 are:

a. Crisis intervention to “keep the doors open” when funding cuts threaten the closure of a voluntary sector legal agency and when the Trustees consider that short term funding are likely to lead to sustainable recovery.

b. Legal services and projects that encourage or provide co-operation between voluntary sector agencies and volunteers from private practice.

c. One-off capital support to increase the capacity of an agency to deliver its service

d. Creation of new social welfare legal and pro bono provision in London and the Home Counties

e. Applications which are eligible under the priorities a-d in respect of which a Trust grant has a reasonable prospect of levering additional funds to the beneficiary organisation will be given extra priority.


Funding process:

Any eligible group may apply to the Trust by way of letter stating what is needed and why. Applicants should enclose annual accounts and annual report.

Applications should be sent by e-mail to chair@londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk

For applications below £5,000 a letter to the Trust accompanied by your annual report and accounts (if applicable) will suffice as a grant request.

The letter should say which priority your application meets and why the Trust is your chosen funder

For applications over £5,000 we will need:

a. a copy of your constitution

b. a copy of your last accounts

c. a copy of your last annual report.

d. a full description of the project or need to be funded (a plan)

e. a note of which priority / priorities you feel that your application meets.

f. in the case of applications under priority (b) above, a plan of how the funding will create a sustainable recovery

g. in the case of an application which also meets criteria (e) above, an explanation of how the other funds will be levered and how much they are.


All standard applications are heard by the Trustees at meetings held three times a year. In emergencies under priority b. Trustees are able to make somewhat quicker decisions if absolutely necessary.