Five Year Core Funding Programme Launched
We’re pleased to announce the launch of Round 1 of the Improving Lives Through Advice (ILTA) grant programme which will provide 5-year core funding to 42 frontline legal advice charities based across England.
We are very excited to have an exceptional cohort of funded organisations and are looking forward to working with them over the next five years to improve access to high quality specialist free legal advice for the people, places, and communities that need it the most. We will also be working with our grantees to build a strong evidence base that will enable us to continue to make the case for further investment in the sector.
The funded organisations are serving some of the most marginalised communities in England and 5-year funding will make a huge difference to the people they support.
"This is such incredible news for us, and we are all absolutely delighted. Your support over five years will be transformative for us as we try to meet the significant demand for our free advice and support services and ensure that the rights of children and young people with SEND are protected, promoted and upheld."
As expected, the demand for funding far outstripped the funds available through ILTA highlighting the increasingly growing funding gap within the sector. We received 304 expressions of interest received for a total ask of £113,486,847. From that we invited 106 organisations to make a full application. We were able to make grants totalling just under £20 million to 42 of those organisations out of an overall request of £47million.
We continue to make the case for further investment in access to justice. Find out how you can support our mission by being part of the picture here.
Round 2 of the ILTA programme is expected to launch in May 2024.
“I’m delighted we are working with such an outstanding group of organisations who provide life changing advice to thousands of people across England struggling with issues around poverty, housing, disability, and discrimination. We are extremely grateful for the support of the National Lottery Community Fund who have made this funding programme possible.”
The Improving Lives Through Advice (ILTA) is supported by £30million from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding will support organisations over two funding rounds to support some of the most marginalised communities and people in England – including people with disabilities, women fleeing abuse and families facing eviction.
“Our funding strengthens society and improves lives. Key to this is helping people overcome obstacles thrown up by poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination. Thanks to our £30 million grant, The Access to Justice Foundation will continue to lead the drive to make free legal services available to those who need them most. This will ensure many more are able to access the advice and support they need, to resolve issues and move on successfully with their lives.”
Our cohort of Round 1 grantees are:
- Access Social Care
- Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit
- Bristol Law Centre
- Central England Law Centre
- Child Poverty Action Group
- Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton
- Citizens Advice Central Dorset
- Citizens Advice Hull and East Riding
- Citizens Advice North Somerset
- Citizens Advice Teignbridge
- Citizens Advice Wandsworth
- Citizens Advice Worcester and Herefordshire
- Coram Children’s Legal Centre Limited
- Cumbria Law Centre
- Derbyshire Law Centre
- Disability North
- East European Resource Centre
- Family Rights Group
- Friends, Families and Travellers
- Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit
- Independent Provider of Special Education Advice
- Law for Life
- Manuel Bravo Project
- Maternity Action
- Merseyside Law Centre
- Norfolk Community Law Service
- North East Law Centre
- North West London Law Centres
- North Yorkshire Citizens Advice & Law Centre
- Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council
- Nottingham Law Centre
- Public Interest Law Centre
- Public Law Project
- RCJ Advice
- Rights of Women
- Sheffield Citizens Advice & Law Centre
- Southwark Law Centre
- Spitfire Advice and Support Services
- Stockton Advice and Information Service
- Suffolk Law Centre
- Working Families
- Your Voice Counts
