The Prisoners Of Conscience Appeal Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £395,000 (2023/24)
• Number of Grants: 178 hardship relief grants awarded in 2023/24
• Decision Time: Varies by grant type; decisions made quarterly by trustees
• Grant Range: Varies by need and grant type
• Geographic Focus: UK and international (supporting individuals from 15+ countries)
• Application Method: Through approved referral agencies only

Contact Details

Website: www.prisonersofconscience.org (redirects to www.hrpf.org.uk)

Email: info@prisonersofconscience.org / grantsofficer@hrpf.org.uk

Phone: 020 7407 6644 / 020 3859 5244

Address: 100 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1LB

Charity Number: 213766

Note: The charity is changing its formal name to Human Rights Protection Fund in Autumn 2025, though “Prisoners of Conscience” will remain in use.

Overview

The Prisoners of Conscience Appeal Fund was established in 1962 as the relief arm of Amnesty International and is now an independent registered charity. It is the only agency in the UK making grants specifically to prisoners of conscience—individuals who have been persecuted for their conscientiously held beliefs, provided they have not used or advocated violence. With annual income of approximately £395,000 and total expenditure of £404,000 in 2023/24, the Fund provides practical and financial support to transform the lives of human rights defenders, journalists, political activists, women's rights advocates, religious minorities, and others who have suffered persecution for non-violent acts of conscience. The organization operates with a small team of three staff members supplemented by up to twelve volunteers and works with 29 referral agencies in the UK and overseas. The Fund has evolved its support model to provide more holistic assistance, including an employability panel, signposting to other NGOs, and practical support to each grant recipient for at least three years following the initial grant.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Hardship Relief Grants (Rolling basis)

• Emergency grants covering basic essentials: food, clothing, toiletries, living expenses, accommodation, furniture, travel costs, medicines, and counselling/therapy sessions
• 178 grants awarded in 2023/24
• Applications made through approved referral agencies

Bursary Grants (Annual deadline: May 31)

• Post-graduate study or professional conversion course tuition fees for former prisoners of conscience in the UK
• Funding covers one academic year; recipients can reapply for subsequent years
• 12 bursary grants awarded in 2019/20
• Next deadline: May 31, 2026

Family Reunion Grants (Rolling basis)

• Covers costs of bringing close dependants to join prisoners of conscience in the UK
• Includes travel costs and related expenses
• 5 family reunion grants awarded in 2024/25 (helping 20+ people reunite since 2020)

Priority Areas

• Human rights defenders, journalists, and political activists persecuted for non-violent advocacy
• Women's rights advocates
• Religious minorities (38 grants awarded for religious persecution in the last two years)
• LGBTQ+ individuals facing persecution
• Environmental activists, lawyers, teachers, and academics
• Individuals from Afghanistan and Iran (unprecedented increase in requests noted)
• Support for 15+ countries including: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Kenya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sudan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals who have used or advocated violence
• Those who have supported violent organizations
• Those who have willingly served in armed forces
• Retrospective funding
• Institutional grants (only grants to individuals)
• Civil war victims or asylum seekers without established personal persecution for conscientious beliefs

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee

David Lock KC (Chair)

• Barrister at Landmark Chambers
• Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics
• Deputy High Court Judge in King's Bench and Family Divisions
• Former councillor, MP, and Government Minister
• Legal500 Public Law QC of the Year 2021
• The trustee board meets quarterly and is actively involved in every application for assistance

Leadership Team

Gary Allison (Chief Executive)

• Joined July 2018 after 25 years of legal practice in South Africa and England
• Former trustee and Vice-Chair of PoC (2001-2013)
• MBA from Warwick University focused on charity and professional services sectors
• On COVID-19's impact: “Coronavirus is a global health challenge, but it is also a global human rights crisis.”
• Noted in July 2023: Unprecedented increase in requests for assistance from Afghanistan and Iran

Emily (Grants and Engagement Officer)

• Joined December 2022 after completing MSc in Global Ethics and Justice at University of Birmingham
• Key role in grant-making delivery and supporter engagement development

Rachel Denham (Communications and Administration Officer)

• Joined March 2025

Patrons

Distinguished patrons include Dame Judi Dench DBE, Lady Antonia Fraser DBE, Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Sir Tom Stoppard OM, Zoë Wanamaker CBE, Rabbi Julia Neuberger DBE, and others.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

All grant applications must be made through approved referral agencies. Individuals cannot apply directly. The Fund works with a network of trusted referral agencies including human rights organizations, refugee groups, solicitors, and community organizations in the UK and overseas.

For Individuals Seeking Support:

• Contact an approved referral agency (such as refugee support organizations, solicitors, or community groups)
• The referral agency will assess eligibility and submit the application on your behalf
• Contact the Grants Officer at grantsofficer@hrpf.org.uk or 020 3859 5244 for guidance on finding a referral agency

For Organizations Becoming Referral Agencies:

• Complete online registration form at: https://poc.secure.force.com/AgencyRegister
• Due diligence is conducted to ensure compliance with safeguarding requirements
• Note: As a small charity with limited budget, not every applying organization can be registered
• Previously registered agencies can log in at: https://poc.secure.force.com/AgencyLogin

Application Deadlines:

• Hardship Relief Grants: Rolling basis
• Family Reunion Grants: Rolling basis
• Bursary Grants: Annual deadline of May 31 (next deadline: May 31, 2026)

Decision Timeline

• Trustee board meets quarterly to review applications
• The board is actively involved in every application for assistance
• Timelines vary depending on urgency (emergency hardship relief may be processed more quickly)
• Bursary applications are considered annually

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, the Fund notes that “eligibility does not necessarily guarantee a successful outcome” as they are “a small charitable organisation with limited funds.” The final decision on any grant application is made by the Trustees and depends on sufficient funds being available. In 2023/24, 178 hardship relief grants were awarded through 29 referral agencies.

Reapplication Policy

For bursary grants, successful recipients who need funding for subsequent years of study can reapply annually. The policy for unsuccessful applicants reapplying is not explicitly stated in public materials. Referral agencies submitting applications on behalf of clients should contact the Grants Officer for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Establishing “Prisoner of Conscience” Status:

The most critical factor is demonstrating that the applicant has “suffered persecution for their conscientiously-held beliefs, provided they have not used or advocated violence.” The Fund emphasizes that “the fact that the applicant is seeking asylum or has been a victim of a civil war is not in itself sufficient. A degree of personal persecution has to be established.”

Referral Agency Relationships:

The Fund “relies on the experience and integrity of its referral agencies” and agencies are “carefully chosen, including due diligence to ensure compliance with safeguarding requirements.” Building a relationship with an approved referral agency is essential—individuals cannot apply directly.

Types of Beneficiaries Recently Funded:

Recent grants have supported:

• Zainab (Pakistan): Abducted at age 14 and forced to convert to Islam as member of persecuted Christian minority
• Sultan (Afghanistan): Journalist threatened by Taliban in 2021, forced into hiding with family
• Sahar (Iran): Fled to Iraq, faced eviction with no bank account access, received hardship relief
• Hanna (Belarus): PhD student at University of Brighton, received grant for visa costs and living expenses
• Lina (Afghanistan): Women's rights activist who was detained
• Eric (Rwanda): Journalist forced to flee for critical government reporting

Current Priority Areas:

Gary Allison noted in July 2023 that the Fund was experiencing “an unprecedented increase in requests for assistance” from Afghanistan and Iran. Over the past five years, PoC has seen “a huge increase in the numbers of applications from people who have been persecuted for exercising freedom of expression and freedom of speech rights—80 percent of whom had to flee their home countries in search of safety.”

Documentation Requirements:

• For bursary applications: Evidence of completed undergraduate degree and acceptance onto post-graduate or conversion course required at time of application
• For family reunion grants: Evidence of relevant asylum status in the UK, authority to travel for family members, and evidence of flight and related costs requested
• As a rule, they do not fund retrospectively

Ongoing Support:

The Fund provides “further practical support to each grant recipient for at least 3 years following the initial grant,” including employability support and signposting to other NGOs. This indicates they value long-term relationships with beneficiaries.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Work through approved referral agencies only—direct applications from individuals are not accepted; establish relationships with refugee support organizations, human rights groups, or solicitors who are registered referral agencies
• Establish clear persecution for conscience—demonstrate that persecution was specifically for conscientiously-held beliefs and non-violent advocacy, not just asylum-seeking or civil war victimhood
• Strict non-violence requirement—any history of using, advocating, or supporting violence disqualifies applicants immediately
• Current geographic priorities—Afghanistan and Iran are experiencing unprecedented request increases; applications from these regions align with current need
• No retrospective funding—ensure funding requests are forward-looking, not covering costs already incurred
• Limited funds mean no guarantee—even eligible applicants may not receive funding due to budget constraints; applications compete for limited resources
• Long-term relationship opportunity—successful applicants receive practical support for at least three years post-grant, indicating the Fund values sustained engagement

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Save the Children Fund
• Christian Aid
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• The Central British Fund for World Jewish Relief
• United Jewish Israel Appeal
• Children on the Edge
• STREET CHILD
• THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION
• NEW ISRAEL FUND
• RENEWABLE WORLD
• THE KARUNA TRUST
• SHAARE ZEDEK UK
• WIZO.UK
• MEDAIR UK
• MONEY FOR MADAGASCAR
• KYANINGA CDC TRUST

References

• Prisoners of Conscience Appeal Fund official website: https://www.hrpf.org.uk/ and https://prisonersofconscience.org/
• Application Guidelines: https://www.hrpf.org.uk/grants/application-guidelines/
• How to Apply: https://www.hrpf.org.uk/grants/how-to-apply/
• Referral Agency Information: https://www.hrpf.org.uk/grants/how-to-apply/if-you-are-a-referral-agency/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 213766: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=213766&subid=0
• Defenders Across the World: https://www.hrpf.org.uk/about-poc/prisoners-of-conscience-across-the-world/
• Trustees and Patrons: https://prisonersofconscience.org/trustee-and-patrons/
• Staff Information: https://prisonersofconscience.org/about-poc/staff/
• “Human rights under lockdown”: https://therooftop.news/2020/07/02/human-rights-under-lockdown/
• Case Studies and Impact: https://www.hrpf.org.uk/impact/
• The Sigrid Rausing Trust grantee profile: https://www.sigrid-rausing-trust.org/grantee/prisoners-of-conscience-appeal-fund/