Aims/priorities: The Strategic Legal Fund (SLF) for migrant groups in the UK is a fund to support legal work in the UK that goes beyond securing justice for an individual and makes a significant contribution to law, practice and procedures to uphold and promote the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants more generally.
The SLF aims to tackle injustices and inconsistencies in law and practice that disadvantage or discriminate against asylum seekers, refugees and migrants as a result of their migration status.
The SLF supports strategic legal work in the UK which benefits asylum seekers, refugees and migrants which are defined by SLF as those:
- Who are living in poverty and
- Who face significant disadvantage or discrimination in connection with their immigration status.
This includes but is not restricted to potential cases in the areas of:
- Immigration
- Asylum and asylum support
- Human rights
- Education
- Housing
- Welfare benefits
- Discrimination
- Access to justice
- Community care.
Who can apply? Applications will be considered from:
- Not-for-profit organisations that provide specialist level legal advice to people discriminated or disadvantaged by their migration status.
- Firms of solicitors that provide specialist level legal advice to people discriminated or disadvantaged by their migration status. Firms need to demonstrate that the funded work does not include any element of profit and there is a pro bono element included.
Grant amount: The maximum grant for any one application is £30,000, however, groups are encouraged to apply for lesser amounts.
The average grant size is around £12,000.
The maximum grant length is 12 months, though most grants are for six months or less.
Depending on the amount of grants being awarded, around two to three grants are awarded on a bimonthly basis.
Application process: Guidelines and an application form can be found on the ILPA website.
Applicants are 'strongly encouraged' to discuss their proposal with the SLF Project Manager before submitting their application form.
Deadline: There are usually six closing dates for applications during the year, roughly every two months.
The next deadlines for application are:
- 27 January 2025 (17:00)
- 31 March 2025 (17:00)
Contact information: Email: SLF@ilpa.org.uk
Website: About the SLF - Strategic Legal Fund