The Hilden Charitable Fund has reopened its UK funding programme and is now accepting applications. The fund is offering grants ranging from £5,000 to £7,000. It focuses on two key areas: supporting asylum seekers and refugees by integrating them into the community and aiding prisoners, especially women, with coping, maintaining family bonds, and successful resettlement post-release. They also welcome applications for post-release projects to reduce reoffending. Eligible applicants include registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies (limited by guarantee), charitable companies, and excepted charities.
The application deadline is 3 p.m. on 21 August 2025. Decisions will be given by the end of November 2025. Your organisation must have an income of less than £200,000.
Funding is up to 2 years and can be for unrestricted or project funding.
Details of the two programmes are detailed below - You must address one of these:
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Asylum Seekers and Refugees continue to face hostility, challenge and isolation which prevents them being able to fully integrate into society; and some face considerable levels of poverty due to being unable to work or use their skills.
The trust wants to support organisations and projects which provide essential services; which help meet their needs; and which support their participation within the wider community.
Please note that there is a difference between asylum seekers, refugees and migrants with the latter, in most cases, not a priority for their funding. If your work includes services to migrants, you must clearly demonstrate on your application the scale of the benefit of your proposal to asylum seekers and refugees.
Penal Affairs
Whilst custodial sentences are very damaging for all of those affected, research by the Prison Reform Trust shows that women are often more greatly impacted, especially where they have children or other caring responsibilities. During the Pandemic, for example, family visits to prisons were curtailed and many children did not see their parent for over a year
The Trust wants to support work “through the door” where charitable organisations go into prisons with projects and support to help prisoners (especially women) cope and/or maintain family bonds and to be better able to resettle positively when released. Equally they welcome applications for post-release projects which support positive resettlement; re-stablishing family bonds; and a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending.
John Mikucki, Fundraising Officer KVA
John.mikucki@kva.org.uk