On release from prison or other sentence, the leaver (and their family) often need help. The Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund gives grants for essentials which enable them to make a new start e.g. everyday clothes or clothes for a job interview, a training course, tools of trade, or household equipment (eg. a fridge, a bed).
Applications for such timely help are made, mainly soon after release, by the Probation Service or other social welfare agencies. The Fund immediately evaluates applications to ensure eligibility. All eligible applications are funded and the grant money is handled by the recommending service only. Typically grants are in the range of £150 – £250, but larger grants up to £1,000 are made for education and training.
Prison leavers must live within the M25; and are not permitted to apply for themselves, only via the probation service or social welfare agencies.
Grants made last year
Source: 2025 Annual Report – average value of grants made
Education And Training Courses
Courses for which education or training grants have been given over the last few years include:
- Asbestos removal
- Barbering
- Beauty treatments
- Book-keeping
- CSCS card
- Demolition
- Dental nurse
- Driving lessons
- Electrical installation
- Electrician
- Fibre network cabling
- Forklift driving
- Gas fitter
- GCSE Maths
- HGV driving
- Highway maintenance
- Motorcycle repairs
- Personal track safety
- Personal trainer
- Plumbing
- Rail training
- Scaffolding
- Sports massage
- Tailoring
- Traffic management
- Welding course
