Inner London Magistrates Court Poor Box

The Inner London Magistrates Court Poor Box, a registered charity established in 1995, is rooted in the historic tradition of court poor boxes and serves as an embedded welfare fund within the Inner London Magistrates’ Courts, including Family Proceedings and Youth Courts. Governed by six trustees with no paid staff, its core mission is to provide immediate financial relief to individuals in need, hardship, or distress directly or indirectly involved in these courts—such as defendants, families, witnesses, or others affected by proceedings. It emphasizes urgent, discretionary aid to mitigate social and economic harms from court encounters, prioritizing acute crisis response over long-term change.

The fund supports emergency subsistence, travel costs, accommodation, food, essential items, and one-off expenses for those linked to Inner London court cases, extending grants to both individuals and UK-registered charities or organizations delivering direct crisis interventions, legal outreach, or family support with operational ties to these courts. Thematic priorities focus on poverty relief, health advancement, and welfare needs arising specifically from judicial involvement, as seen in support for groups like Support Through Court.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities with proven connections to Inner London Magistrates’ Courts; unsolicited applications are not accepted—grants arise via referrals from court staff, judges, or partners. There are no income thresholds, deadlines, or fixed rounds; decisions are rolling and responsive. Typical grants are modest (within annual expenditures of £180,000–£197,000), funding small-scale, immediate relief rather than core costs, capital projects, long-term programs, or activities outside the strict Inner London court jurisdiction, distinguishing it as a uniquely court-integrated, referral-driven resource for hyper-local judicial welfare.