Council For At-risk Academics

Charity Number: 207471

Annual Expenditure: £12.1M
Geographic Focus: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Jordan, Malaysia, Turkey, Northern Ireland, Scotland ... [1 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £12.1 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Up to 12 months (UK Programme); rolling basis (Fellowship Programme)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £74,000 (depending on programme)
  • Geographic Focus: International (primarily UK placements)
  • Active Fellows: 220+ (2023-2024)

Contact Details

Website: www.cara.ngo

Email: info@cara.ngo

Phone: 020 7021 0882

Address: British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH

Overview

Founded in 1933 as the Academic Assistance Council to assist academics fleeing Nazi persecution, CARA is now the UK's leading charity supporting at-risk academics globally. With an annual income of £12.1 million (2023), CARA has grown significantly under Executive Director Stephen Wordsworth's leadership since 2012 (from £600,000 annually). The organization supports approximately 350 academics at any given time through its network of 135 UK universities and research institutes. As Wordsworth states: "It was a rescue mission then, and it's still very much a rescue mission today." CARA's early beneficiaries included 16 future Nobel Prize winners, demonstrating the organization's long-standing impact on preserving academic talent during times of crisis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Fellowship Programme (Primary Programme)

  • Amount: Approximately £37,000 per annum for 2-3 year fellowships
  • Purpose: Secure temporary postdoctoral or PhD placements for academics in immediate danger
  • Application: Rolling basis, direct applications from individuals
  • Covers: Fee waivers (through partner universities), living costs, visa support, family relocation

UK Programme Grants

  • Amount: Varies (no maximum disclosed, limited funds available)
  • Purpose: Enable refugee/asylum-seeking academics in the UK to re-establish careers
  • Application: Two-stage process - initial enquiry form, then full application
  • Timing: One allocation meeting per year
  • Covers: Tuition fees, maintenance, travel, registration/exam fees, bench fees, books, research costs, IT equipment, childcare

Syria Programme (2016-2024)

  • Amount: £1,000 - £15,000 research grants
  • Purpose: Support Syrian academics in exile (primarily Turkey)
  • Focus: Research on Syria or Syrian populations in exile

Researchers at Risk (Partnership with British Academy)

  • Amount: Circa £37,000 per annum (2-year fellowships)
  • Focus: Ukraine-based academics (180 grantees currently)
  • Additional: Research support grants £2,000 - £10,000

Priority Areas

CARA supports academics from any discipline - “does not distinguish between seniority, gender or discipline.” Current priority regions include:

  • Ukraine and Russia
  • Syria, Iraq, Yemen
  • Afghanistan
  • Gaza and Middle East
  • Any country where academics face political, racial, or religious persecution

What They Don't Fund

  • Academics who left their home country more than 10 years ago (UK Programme)
  • Academics without prior university-level teaching/research experience
  • Non-academic professional development (must be academic or allied professions)
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Governance and Leadership

President: Professor Sir Malcolm Grant CBE - Former UCL Provost and Chair of NHS England

Chair: Anne Lonsdale

Vice-Chair: Professor Sir Deian Hopkin

Executive Director: Stephen Wordsworth LVO CMG - Former British diplomat with 30-year FCO career

Key Quote from Leadership:

“The mission of Universities is the promotion of critical thought... In defending these colleagues at risk, then, we are defending the very idea of a University.” - Professor Stephen Reicher, St Andrews University (CARA Network member)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Fellowship Programme:

  1. Direct application from academics at risk in home country or recently displaced
  2. Submit comprehensive documentation: legal documents, passport, academic qualifications, CV, references, research abstract/PhD proposal, evidence of academic employment, detailed risk statement
  3. CARA checks background, qualifications, and references
  4. Applicants encouraged to identify potential supervisors/host institutions
  5. CARA negotiates placement and allocates funding
  6. Assistance with visa process and practical arrangements

UK Programme:

  1. Contact CARA to request Enquiry Form
  2. Staff verify eligibility (may request additional details)
  3. Once eligible, invited to complete full Application Form
  4. Must secure formal course/placement offer before Allocation Committee meeting
  5. Provide 3 academic/professional references
  6. Potential interview at London office

Decision Timeline

Fellowship Programme: Applications processed on rolling basis; currently assessing up to 90 new applications at any time with 80+ at advanced placement stage

UK Programme: Up to 12 months from initial enquiry to decision (one grant allocation meeting per year)

Notification: Written notification of outcomes; continued funding depends on positive progress reports

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. However:

  • CARA receives “many more applications each year than they can fund”
  • Currently supporting 220+ active fellows in placements (2023-2024)
  • Approximately 350 academics being helped through the process at any given time
  • Received 750 applications from Afghanistan alone in 3-4 months (2021)

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in public materials. CARA acknowledges limited funds and inability to support all eligible applicants.

Application Success Factors

Critical Eligibility Requirements:

  • Clear evidence of at-risk status due to political, racial, or religious oppression
  • Documented experience as paid lecturer/researcher in university/HE institution
  • Strong academic qualifications and references (CARA understands documentation may be difficult to obtain)
  • For UK Programme: must have left country/occupation due to persecution or fear of persecution

Key Success Factors:

  1. Comprehensive risk statement - Detailed evidence of danger or persecution faced
  2. Strong academic credentials - CV, qualifications, evidence of academic employment (CARA accommodates missing documentation)
  3. Quality references - 3 academic/professional referees who can verify background
  4. Clear research/career plan - Well-defined research abstract or PhD proposal
  5. Appropriate course/placement selection - Carefully chosen to match skills and career objectives
  6. Proactive host identification - Identifying potential supervisors strengthens applications

CARA's Unique Approach:

  • Focus on academics in “immediate danger” - “imminent imprisonment, injury or death”
  • Supports academics still in dangerous locations, not just those already in exile
  • Provides 2-3 year awards as standard (longer than most programmes)
  • Flexible about missing documentation due to circumstances

What CARA Values:

  • Preservation of academic skills and expertise
  • Potential for academics to contribute to their fields and potentially rebuild their countries
  • Academic freedom and critical thought as fundamental university values

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. CARA is a rescue organization first - Priority given to academics in immediate, life-threatening danger rather than those seeking career advancement opportunities
  1. All disciplines welcome - No preference by field, seniority, or gender; comprehensive support across natural sciences, medical sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and arts
  1. Risk evidence is paramount - The strength of your risk statement and evidence of persecution is critical; be specific and comprehensive about threats faced
  1. Network partnerships matter - CARA works through 135 university partners; proactively identifying potential host institutions strengthens applications
  1. Long-term commitment - CARA provides 2-3 year fellowships (longer than most programmes), demonstrating commitment to sustainable career rebuilding
  1. Documentation flexibility - CARA understands challenges in obtaining academic documentation from dangerous situations; lack of papers should not deter applications
  1. UK Programme requires patience - With one allocation meeting per year and up to 12-month timelines, plan ahead; Fellowship Programme offers rolling applications for more urgent cases

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References