COVID-19 Torture Survivor Emergency Relief Fund: Apply for a grant

Applications are now closed.

Following from our COVID-19 relief fund appeal, we have recognised the need to extend support to survivors of torture who we cannot currently reach. We are therefore inviting small community-based organisations supporting survivors of torture during the pandemic to apply to us for a one-off small grant between £200 and £2000 from our COVID-19 Torture Survivor Emergency Relief Fund.

This grants' scheme is a way of channeling our supporters' generosity to more torture survivors beyond our own clients, and supporting the incredible work that small charities on the frontline are doing to keep them safe and well.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of everyone in the UK, and BAME communities are at particular risk. For survivors of torture, there are additional challenges, over and above those faced by the general population. The social isolation of lockdown has led to increased trigger reminders of the isolation and terrible loneliness of torture. Those living on limited funds are struggling to meet the basic needs of their families, and worry about the impact should they become unwell.

To help address these challenges and support survivors of torture, Freedom from Torture has made the decision to help organisations working with survivors of torture who we cannot take into our service. We are particularly keen to support survivors who tend to be underrepresented in our current services. These include (but are not limited to) survivors from LGBTQI+ backgrounds, women, single mothers and single fathers with young children, survivors from China and South East Asia, survivors from Eastern Europe, older adult survivors.

We will be making grants of between £200 and £2,000 to charities working with survivors of torture. Grants should be used to provide small emergency payments to survivors of torture so that they can buy food, clothing or other essential items.

If you want to participate and would like to apply for a grant to support survivors of torture, please download and complete an application form and email to [email protected].  

Please note that there is no closing date for this fund; once all of the available money has been granted, the fund will close to new applications.

For more information about this fund, read our COVID-19 Torture Survivor Emergency Relief Fund press release.

This grant scheme is now closed.