Grants for individuals on long sentences
Our mission is to provide personalised support to people serving long-term, IPP and OLR prison sentences to help each person plan, prepare and transition into the community. We help each person plan for life on release, provide financial support to turn those plans into reality, and offer ongoing support to stay on track once back in the community.
We have experienced an incredibly high demand for our grants this year. We have now reached our maximum funding allocation for 2026.
Because of this, we are temporarily closing to new applications for the rest of the year. We will officially reopen for new grant applications in early 2027.
What this means for you if you have already submitted an application:
For Grant Applicants: If you have already sent us an application, please do not worry. We are still operating fully and are currently processing every single application received up to 31 August 2026. Your request is being reviewed, and you will hear from us soon.
For Prison Staff: Thank you for your incredible work helping residents apply. Please hold any new applications until we reopen in 2027, as we cannot accept or waitlist new applications during this pause. We will be in touch once the programme reopens.
If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact grants@hardmantrust.org.uk.
We look forward to supporting more individuals on their journey when our doors reopen in the new year.
The Hardman Trust Grants Programme
Who Can Apply?
We accept applications from individuals currently serving a sentence in prison who are preparing for release. Grants cannot be applied for once a person has been released.
Eligibility criteria vary depending on sentence type:
- Standard Long Sentences:
- Men: Must have served 10 years or more on their current sentence, be within 2 years of an estimated release date, and hold Category C or Category D status (if in England or Wales).
- Women: Must have served 6 years or more on their current sentence and be within 2 years of an estimated release date.
- IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) & OLR (Order for Lifelong Restriction) Sentences:
- Must have served at least 10 years (men) or 6 years (women) on their current sentence.
- Can apply for a Wellbeing grant while serving, and an Education, Training & Employment grant when within 2 years of their estimated release date or liberation (Scotland).
- All applications must be fully completed and countersigned/endorsed by two members of prison staff.
What Can the Grant Cover?
Our grants are designed to support positive resettlement, health and wellbeing, and routes into employment or education.
- Grant Value: Up to £1,500 per person.
- Standard Long Sentences: Single grant allocation up to £1,500.
- IPP / OLR Sentences: Can be split into two applications (e.g., £100–£1,500 total across Wellbeing and Employment/Training) or combined into a single application if applying closer to release.
- Eligible Items & Funding:
- Vocational training and qualifications (e.g., HGV licence, forklift licence, SMSTS, NEBOSH, railtrack, personal training, bookkeeping, animal care).
- Academic and vocational course fees.
- Essential work clothing and tools required for trades.
- Laptops for studying and employment.
- Art materials, musical instruments, and equipment for health and wellbeing.
Examples of recent grants
Here are examples of items and qualifications funded for individuals over the past year:
- Vocational Licences & Certifications: HGV licences, forklift training, SMSTS construction safety certification, railtrack qualifications, and biohazard cleanup training.
- Education & Professional Development: NEBOSH health and safety courses, academic course fees, bookkeeping training, and laptops for work and study.
- Trade Tools & Equipment: Professional tools for various trades, work attire, and equipment needed to secure immediate employment.
- Wellbeing & Creative Pursuits: Personal training qualifications, art materials, musical instruments, book publishing assistance, and animal care resources.
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.
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