Longford Charitable Trust

The Longford Charitable Trust, formally the Frank Longford Charitable Trust, was founded in 2002 by Lord Longford’s family and figures like Jon Snow to champion second chances through education for people with criminal convictions, especially young serving and former prisoners aged 22-29 rebuilding their lives. Rooted in values of hope, dignity, empathy, and social justice, it promotes rehabilitation via higher education scholarships, one-to-one mentoring, and employability guidance, with an evidence-led approach that has enabled over 85% of 500 scholars to complete degrees, gain jobs, and avoid reoffending, fostering generational change.

It exclusively funds its flagship Longford Scholarships programme for undergraduate degrees in fields like law, social policy, and business, providing fees, living costs, and tailored support for determined individuals overcoming barriers like disrupted education and stigma. Additional activities include the annual Longford Lecture on prison reform and the Longford Prize for grassroots rehabilitation efforts, all UK-wide with no geographic or religious restrictions.

Eligible beneficiaries are serving or ex-prisoners pursuing UK higher education; organisations and charities are ineligible, with no unsolicited applications accepted—only individuals apply via online form (or prison education departments for those in custody), with decisions post-submission. Typical grants are up to £5,000 per year, multi-year and relational, for courses starting September/February; next deadline is 1 May.

Distinctive for its hyper-specialist focus on prisoners' education (no general grants, core costs, projects, or capital), peer-led mentoring by alumni, and advocacy prominence, it rejects broad charitable requests outside this remit, prioritising transformative, high-impact interventions for societal benefit.