Frank Longford Charitable Trust

The Frank Longford Charitable Trust, established in 2002 by Lord Longford’s family and supporters like Jon Snow and Antonia Fraser, upholds his legacy of prison reform and social justice by offering second chances to individuals with criminal justice experience, primarily through higher education as a route to rehabilitation and reintegration. Rooted in values of humane treatment, shared humanity, and reducing recidivism, it delivers person-centred support via the flagship Longford Scholarship—providing over 500 awards to young serving or ex-prisoners (mostly in their 20s-30s) for UK university study, including tuition, tailored mentoring from professionals and peers, and employability guidance. Complementary initiatives include an employability project, the annual Longford Lecture for policy discourse, and the Longford Prize celebrating prison reform innovations, with annual spending exceeding £360,000 on these targeted activities.

It exclusively funds direct individual scholarships rather than organisational grants, prioritising those with custodial sentences pursuing degree-level courses or Open University modules, with UK-wide geographic scope and no religious or income restrictions. Charities or groups supporting ex-prisoner education/employability may align indirectly through partnerships, but unsolicited applications from organisations are not accepted.

Typical awards range from £4,000–£5,000 per scholar, applied for via online form or post with a personal statement, course details, and two referees. Key deadlines are 1 May for Longford Scholarships (September/February starts) and 15 August/5 December for Frank Awards. Distinctively, it eschews general philanthropy for long-term relational support—boasting 85% graduation and employment success—focusing solely on dismantling barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals, excluding unrelated causes or third-party organisational funding.