The Hilden Charitable Fund has recently reopened to applications with a renewed focus. Previously, the charity supported UK charitable organisations working in the fields of:
o Asylum Seekers and Refugees.
o Community Based Initiatives for Disadvantaged Young People Aged 16 to 25.
o Homelessness.
o Penal Affairs, and
o Overseas development, particularly where it benefits women and girls through community development, education and health initiatives.
The Hilden Charitable Fund now offers grants in the following 2 areas:
1. Asylum Seekers and Refugees
The charity states that “Asylum Seekers and Refugees continue to face hostility, challenge and isolation which prevents them being able to fully integrate into society; and some face considerable levels of poverty due to being unable to work or use their skills. We want to support organisations and projects which provide essential services; which help meet their needs; and which support their integration within the wider community”.
2. Penal Affairs
Under this category the charity’s website comments that “Whilst custodial sentences are often very damaging for all of those affected, research by the Prison Reform Trust shows that women are often more greatly impacted, especially where they have children or other caring responsibilities. During the Pandemic, for example, family visits to prisons were curtailed and many children did not see their parent for over a year. We want to support work "through the door" where organisations go into prisons with projects and support to help prisoners (especially women) cope and/or maintain family bonds and to be better able to resettle positively when released. Equally we welcome applications for post-release projects which support positive resettlement and a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending.”
The charity is expected to announce an overseas grant programme later in 2022, with an emphasis on supporting developing counties in Africa.
Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to apply for grant support:
o Be able to demonstrate that they have UK charitable purposes.
o Have adequate insurance and safeguarding policies and procedures for your service users, volunteers and employees, including DRB screening if necessary.
o Have an income (from all sources) of less than £250,000 in each of the last 3 financial years.
o Have a project that meets the Foundation's priority areas, and
o Hold less than 12 months spending in cash reserves.
Grants, which can cover project and core costs, can be for up to £7,000 per year for a period of 1 or 2 years. Although there is no specific requirement for matched funding, applicants are encouraged to show what other funding has been sought and secured.
Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on Hilden’s website.
The application rounds for the next 12 months are:
1. Opened on Monday 16th May 2022 with an application deadline of Sunday 3rd July 2022.
2. Opens Monday 3rd October 2022 with an application deadline of Sunday 27th November 2022.
3. Opens Monday 6th February 2023 (please note that we think the date on Hilden’s website is incorrect) with an application deadline of Sunday 26th March 2023.
Applicants are expected to be notified of the outcome of their application within 3 months of the deadline date.
