The Access to Justice Foundation grants: what they fund and how to apply

Funder Last checked 11 July 2026

"The Access to Justice Foundation increases funding for free legal advice across the UK. It gives grants — often multi-year, flexible, core-cost funding — to not-for-profit organisations providing free legal advice and support. It does not fund general charities, and it opens funding rounds only when it has raised the money."

What the Foundation funds

The Foundation directs money to free legal advice services in communities with the greatest need. It funds four broad areas: access to specialist legal advice so people can realise their rights; preventative and “upstream” advice that stops legal crises developing; work that improves public understanding of rights; and work that uses frontline learning to change wider systems and policy. It aims to award multi-year, flexible, core-cost grants wherever possible.

Its funding comes from sources including pro bono costs orders, government contracts, donations and undistributed damages from collective (opt-out) court actions. In 2024 it made £14.67m in grants from £13.28m of income, with 92% of funds raised passed on as grants.

How much you can apply for

There is no published fixed grant size. Recent grants under the Improving Lives Through Advice 2026 programme ranged from about £139,500 to £300,000. The Legal Support Grant 2026–2029 shares £15m across England and Wales over two and a half years. Amounts depend on the programme, the funds available and your organisation’s costs.

Who can apply

This is a funder for the free legal advice sector. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organisations that provide free legal advice, support or representation — for example law centres, Citizens Advice offices and specialist advice charities. If your charity does not run a free legal advice service, this funder is unlikely to be the right fit. Each programme sets its own eligibility, so read the current criteria before you apply.

Deadlines and rounds

The Foundation does not run fixed rounds that open at the same time each year. It launches funding opportunities once it has raised enough money. As at 11 July 2026 (re-checked) there is no open general round: the £15m Legal Support Grant 2026–2029 (funded by the Ministry of Justice, for England and Wales) has closed, and applicants are due to be notified in September 2026. The best way to keep track is the Foundation’s Apply page or its email updates.

How to apply

When a programme is open, you apply through the Foundation’s Apply for a grant page, which sets out the current opportunity, eligibility and deadline. When nothing is open, you can sign up on the same page for updates. Questions can go to the Grants team at grants@atjf.org.uk.

Tips

  • Confirm you deliver free legal advice or representation before applying — this is the core eligibility test.
  • Sign up for updates, because rounds open when funds are raised rather than on a fixed calendar.
  • Have core-cost and multi-year plans ready; the Foundation prefers flexible, unrestricted funding where it can.
  • Check the specific programme’s nation or region — some cover England and Wales only, others include Scotland.

Official source and last updated

Last updated: July 2026. Primary source: The Access to Justice Foundation — Grants. Register entries: England and Wales charity no. 1126147; Scotland charity no. SC048584.

Recent grants

[Recent grants list rendered automatically from 360Giving data — do not hand-write.]

Similar funders

  • A B Charitable Trust — funds access to justice and human rights work.
  • The Legal Education Foundation — funds legal advice and justice research (no CharityIQ funder profile at time of writing).
  • Esmée Fairbairn Foundation — funds social justice and advice work.

Check if your charity is eligible for funders like this — CharityIQ’s free Grant Finder matches your charity to real, published UK funders and cites the source for each. → /grant-finder/

Frequently asked questions

Not-for-profit organisations that provide free legal advice, support or representation — for example law centres, Citizens Advice offices and specialist advice charities. The Foundation funds the free legal advice sector specifically. General charities without a free legal advice service are not the intended recipients. Always check the current programme's eligibility before applying.

Not for a general round as at 11 July 2026 (re-checked). Its £15m Legal Support Grant 2026–2029, funded by the Ministry of Justice for England and Wales, has closed, with outcomes due September 2026. The Foundation does not run fixed annual rounds. It opens opportunities when it has raised funds, so check the Apply page or sign up for updates.

There is no published fixed grant size. Recent grants under its Improving Lives Through Advice 2026 programme ranged from about £139,500 to £300,000. Amounts depend on the specific programme, the funds available and the organisation's costs. The Foundation aims to award multi-year, flexible, core-cost funding wherever possible.

Free legal advice and support across the UK — including specialist legal advice, preventative or "upstream" advice that stops legal crises developing, work that improves public understanding of rights, and work that uses frontline learning to change systems and policy. It focuses on communities least likely to be able to access legal help.

From sources such as pro bono costs orders, government contracts (for example the Ministry of Justice-funded Legal Support Grant), donations and undistributed damages from collective actions. In 2024 it made £14.67m in grants from £13.28m income, with 92% of funds raised going to grants.