Support to people on long sentences
We offer personalised support to women who have served 6 or more years in prison and men who have served 10 or more years in prison. We help each person to plan and prepare for life on release, we follow up with the financial support to turn that plan into a reality, and we offer ongoing support to stay on track once back in the community.
Working with each person’s unique goals, skills and circumstances, our work is tailored to the individual, and makes a lasting difference.
PLEASE NOTE: You can only apply for our grants if you are still in prison and preparing for release, not once you have been released.
See our Directory page for additional support.
Preparation for release
This work is currently being piloted, with a view to learning how best to support people on long sentences prepare for life on release.
We are working with each person to create a plan for their life after prison, providing information about the job market, practical considerations such as how to register for a bank account, and tailored support around each person’s goals and aspirations, and what might have changed in the time they’ve been in prison.
Practical and financial support
Once someone has a plan in place, we offer the practical and financial support to turn the plan into reality. We offer grants of up to £1,500 to people currently on long prison sentences, who are preparing for release. This money can go towards training or educational courses, the tools required to help gain employment, materials needed for activities that improve health and wellbeing, or other practical solutions that support positive resettlement.
Grant criteria
For men:
- Has served 10 years or more in prison, and is still in prison when applying
- Is applying within 2 years of their estimated release date
- Has either Cat C or Cat D status
For women:
- Has served 6 years or more in prison, and is still in prison when applying
- Is applying within 2 years of their estimated release date
Please see our application forms (below) for a list of what a Hardman Trust grant can and cannot be used for.
Grant process
- Person in prison completes the relevant application form (below) for financial support. Application is given to the prison staff member, to be scanned and sent to Hardman Trust.
- A Hardman Trust representative meets with the applicant to discuss the application, by phone or in person.
- The Hardman Trust decision committee meets quarterly to allocate grants.
- If an application is successful grants can be paid in various ways, for example: directly to an applicant, by an invoice or by the Hardman Trust ordering items for you. This will be discussed with you and decided by the Hardman Trust with support of the prison and/or probation.
In the past year our grants have funded: HGV licence, forklift licence, SMSTS courses, bio hazard training, NEBOSH training, railtrack training, personal training qualifications, book publishing, bookkeeping, animal care, tools for various trades, work clothing, laptops for work and studying, academic and vocational education, art materials, musical instruments, items for hobbies and many more! Contact jess@hardmantrust.org.uk if you have questions about what we fund before you apply.
As a long-term prisoner (over 10 years) it would have been very hard to adjust to the changes of life, but with the help of The Hardman Trust I was able to quickly secure work as a researcher for a charity. This is something that grew in me after getting support from you, making me think that I would like to help others with my skillset too.
Note: we do not currently have enough funds to help everyone that applies. We might therefore prioritise by release date, give smaller amounts than have been requested, or turn down an application if we are unable to support. We will always endeavour to provide feedback to applicants, and signpost to other support services where appropriate.
Support after release
Once someone has made a plan for release and has been offered the financial support to make the plan a reality, we provide ongoing support through the gate and back into the community. At present this is by phone, for as long as the individual needs it. We are currently piloting a more in depth support offer, testing different approaches to this. What we learn from this pilot will be rolled out more broadly.
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