The Hardman Trust

Charity Number: 1098118

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £353,043 (FY 2022-23)
  • Grant Range: £150 - £1,500
  • Average Grant: £900
  • Decision Time: Quarterly (up to 3 months)
  • Geographic Focus: England, Scotland, and Wales
  • Eligibility: Men serving 10+ years, women serving 6+ years
  • Application Method: Digital portal (via YCG platform)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.hardmantrust.org.uk
  • Email: info@hardmantrust.org.uk
  • Phone: 0207 261 0084
  • Pre-application queries: jess@hardmantrust.org.uk

Overview

The Hardman Trust is the only UK charity focusing specifically on the unique needs of people serving long-term prison sentences across England, Scotland, and Wales. Supporting both men (10+ years served) and women (6+ years served), the Trust provides practical financial support to individuals preparing for release who have clear plans for rebuilding their lives. With total income of £353,043 in 2022-23, the charity has increased individual grant amounts from £1,000 to £1,500 in direct response to need. Winner of the prestigious Robin Corbett Award for Prisoner Re-Integration, the Trust was recognized for “the practical way [they] support long-term returning citizens from the gate into employment with help, training and support.” The Trust operates one of the most rigorous selection processes in prison grant-making, with each applicant interviewed by one of 29 volunteer Assessors who visit prisons across the UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Hardman Awards (£150 - £1,500)

  • Financial support for prisoners nearing release with clear resettlement plans
  • Average grant: £900
  • Application via digital portal through YCG (Your Consultation Group) platform since June 2023
  • Decision committee meets quarterly to allocate grants

Priority Areas

The Trust funds practical, focused support related to successful resettlement:

Education & Vocational Training:

  • HGV, LGV, forklift, and dumper truck licenses
  • SMSTS courses, bio hazard training, NEBOSH training, railtrack training
  • Personal training qualifications
  • Academic courses (support costs)
  • Bookkeeping, animal care training

Employment Tools & Equipment:

  • Tools for various trades
  • Work clothing
  • Laptops for work and studying
  • Equipment for business start-ups (laptops, printers)

Wellbeing & Personal Development:

  • Art materials
  • Musical instruments
  • Items for hobbies that improve wellbeing
  • Materials for activities that support social connection

Other Support:

  • Book publishing projects
  • Specialized vocational equipment

What They Don't Fund

  • Applications from people who have already been released from prison
  • General living expenses
  • Applications from individuals not meeting sentence length criteria (under 10 years for men, under 6 years for women)
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Governance and Leadership

Chair of Trustees:

Alexandra Marks CBE joined as Chair in October 2022. A qualified solicitor and former city law firm partner, she now sits as a part-time judge. Previously Chair of Prisoners' Education Trust, Amnesty International Charity Limited, and JUSTICE's Executive Board. Subsequently appointed Chair of the Parole Board in 2025.

CEO:

Kerryn Wotton joined in 2022 with 20 years' experience in the voluntary sector, including drug and alcohol support, homelessness, criminal justice, and youth services. Most recently Director of Operations for a national charity supporting people to read in prison. Under her leadership, the Trust won the Robin Corbett Award. Lady Val Corbett noted: "This year's winner, The Hardman Trust, under the inspired leadership of CEO Kerryn Wotton, won through supporting some of the 11,000 serving sentences of 10 years or more."

Interim CEO (2025):

Alice serves as Interim CEO to support the leadership transition in the first half of 2025. Founder of pioneering London resettlement charity Switchback, which she led for 15 years, with extensive experience working with people in and around UK prisons.

Notable Trustees:

  • Melanie Essex (joined 2023): Member of the Parole Board of England and Wales who regularly meets prisoners on long-term sentences
  • Chris: Experienced director in the Criminal Justice System in Wales, former Hardman Trust grant recipient, now gives time as trustee and volunteer
  • Louise: Spent over 20 years in the Prison Service, including as governor of both male and female prisons and as Group Director
  • David: Director for Prison Reform Trust's Building Futures project, leading programmes for prisoners serving or who have served 10+ years
  • Edward: Practicing solicitor specializing in technology and data law, passionate advocate for justice and rehabilitation
  • Cathal (Treasurer, joined July 2023): Chartered Accountant with over 16 years' finance experience

Five Assessors are also Trustees, and three Assessors are former Hardman Grant recipients who resettled successfully.

How to Apply to The Hardman Trust

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted while still in prison and preparing for release (not after release).

Since June 2023, applications are made through a digital application process via the YCG (Your Consultation Group) Prisons Digital Hub. This replaced the previous paper-based system that required prison staff support.

Application Steps:

  1. Complete the relevant application form for financial support
  2. Prison staff member scans and sends application to Hardman Trust
  3. Hardman Trust representative meets with applicant to discuss application (by phone or in person)
  4. One-to-one interview conducted by one of 29 volunteer Assessors who visit prisons across England, Wales, and Scotland
  5. Application reviewed by decision committee

Contact for Pre-Application Queries:

Email jess@hardmantrust.org.uk with questions about what the Trust funds before applying.

Decision Timeline

  • Decision Committee Meetings: Quarterly (every 3 months)
  • Expected Wait Time: Up to 3 months from application submission to decision
  • Applicants highly value the visit from the Hardman Assessor regardless of application outcome

Success Rates

Specific success rate data not publicly available. However, the Trust notes they “do not currently have enough funds to help everyone that applies,” meaning not all applications will be successful due to limited resources.

Individual awards are presently in the region of £250-£700, with grants up to £1,500 available depending on individual needs.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply. If someone is declined support, the Trust invites them to reapply once they have completed further research and preparation. This indicates a supportive approach that encourages applicants to strengthen their applications rather than permanently closing the door.

Application Success Factors

Clear, Practical Resettlement Plans:

The Trust emphasizes funding people who are “nearing release and who have a clear plan of how to use the money to take their next steps in life.” Applications should demonstrate specific, practical goals directly linked to successful reintegration.

Focus on Long-Term Rehabilitation:

Financial awards are made “in recognition of some special commitment on the part of the applicant to the process of rehabilitation.” All grants are “focused, practical, and relate to the individuals making a success of their lives.”

Timing is Critical:

Applications are only accepted from those “still in prison and preparing for release” - not years away from release, and not after release has occurred.

Demonstrable Need for Specific Items:

The Trust funds concrete items and training with clear purpose: “equipment for business start-ups, tools of trades, work clothing, support costs for academic courses” and various vocational training. Vague or general requests are less likely to succeed.

Rigorous Assessment Process:

The Trust “operates one of the most rigorous selection and payment processes in grant making to prisoners.” Each applicant is “interviewed by an Assessor” and “their application is looked at critically.” Be prepared for thorough scrutiny of your plans.

Value of the Interview Process:

“Feedback from prisoners confirms that they highly value the visit from the Hardman Assessor regardless of the outcome of their application.” Engage meaningfully with this process - it's both an assessment and a support opportunity.

Philosophy of Empowerment:

The Trust's mission is to “encourage men and women to achieve self-set personal goals and feel empowered to take control of their lives.” Applications should emphasize personal agency and self-determined goals rather than passive receipt of support.

Evidence-Based Approach:

The Trust's work is based on the belief that “when people leaving prison are supported into education, training or employment they experience improved wellbeing, are more likely to reintegrate successfully, and are less likely to reoffend.” Frame applications around education, training, or employment outcomes.

Recent Funded Examples:

In recent years, 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, and musical instruments.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Eligibility is strict: Men must have served 10+ years, women 6+ years. Must apply while still in prison but preparing for release.
  • Limited funds mean high competition: The Trust explicitly states they cannot help everyone who applies. Make your application compelling and well-prepared.
  • Clarity and practicality win: Applications need “a clear plan of how to use the money to take their next steps in life.” Vague aspirations won't succeed; specific, costed, practical plans will.
  • Digital application since 2023: Use the YCG Prisons Digital Hub platform. This represents a significant modernization making applications more accessible.
  • Quarterly decisions mean patience: With committees meeting every 3 months, build this timeline into your planning. Don't expect rapid decisions.
  • Reapplication is encouraged: If declined, take time to strengthen your research and preparation, then reapply. The door remains open.
  • The interview matters: Prepare for a rigorous one-to-one interview with a volunteer Assessor. This is both assessment and support - engage meaningfully with the process.
  • Connection to employment/education strengthens applications: The Trust's evidence base and philosophy emphasize education, training, and employment as pathways to successful reintegration. Frame applications accordingly.

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