The aim of Comic Relief’s Re-Rooted Safety and Security for Refugees and Asylum Seekers grant programme is to help organisations address the challenges faced by the migration sector, and support refugees and asylum seekers to safely and securely rebuild their lives in the UK.

Comic Relief states that “research has highlighted the strengths in the UK refugee and migrant sector, which include quality frontline services, delivered by a committed and skilled workforce.  It also includes key influencing work that has significantly shaped policy and practice. Through this funding, we want to help organisations build on these strengths”.

Flexible, core funding grants of up to £200,000 over 3-5 years are available for UK organisations that specialise in delivering services and support for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and that are doing influencing and advocacy work for safer routes and improved outcomes for people affected. Comic Relief normally restricts its funding to UK registered charities, but there are exceptions. Organisations interested in applying that are not charities are advised to contact Comic Relief’s Grants Team to discuss their eligibility. Partnership proposals are welcomed.

Priority will be given to organisations that involve people with lived experience of forced migration to the UK. This should include current practice in involving lived experience in developing the organisation’s work and priority areas, and/or in the running of the organisation. It could also include plans for reinforcing existing good practice for involving people with lived experience.

Funding is not available for:

o Activities which evangelise (preaching or spreading religious beliefs) or proselytise (trying to convert people’s belief or religious views).
o Capital costs over 25% of the total funding request. (Note capital costs will need to have a strong link to the changes the organisation is aiming to achieve.)
o General appeals, or marketing appeals.
o Individual and group sponsorship, bursaries, or funding study by individuals.
o Local authorities cannot be one of the partners included in a proposal.
o One-off conference or workshop (unless part of larger, ongoing work).
o Organisation or activities with a partisan political stance, or
o Projects and organisations outside the UK.

There is a 3-stage application process for the programme.

o Stage 1 - interested organisations should initially complete the Eligibility Checklist on Comic Relief’s website.
o Stage 2 – organisations that pass the eligibility phase will then have until Tuesday 26th March 2024 to complete a full application.
o Stage 3 – following the full application phase, a number of applicants will be notified in May 2024 that they’ve been shortlisted for a grant. Grant awards are expected to be announced in July 2024.

Further information, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and the Eligibility Checklist can be found on Comic Relief’s website.