The Rory Peck Trust is offering financial support to freelance journalists(and/or their family) in crisis, particularly those who have been seriously injured, threatened, imprisoned, detained, forced into exile or killed as a result of their work.
The assistance grant which also covers families of the distressed journalists was initiated in 1995 and is specifically designed to help professional freelance journalists (and/or their family) who are facing a crisis directly related to their work.
The application process for the grant usually takes from one to several weeks, during which time the organisation’s researchers will work with a potential grantee to ascertain the kind of financial support to be offered.
The amount of assistance varies according to the particular circumstances of the applicant but may include medical and rehabilitation costs, subsistence costs, legal advice and relocation costs.
Rory Peck Trust will also liaise with an international network of partners and may refer applicants to appropriate organisations around the world for specific advice and expertise, special needs or additional funds.
Eligible freelance journalists are those whose main source of income is from journalism and those who meet the criteria including:
- ability to receive a grant from a British registered charity
- those who are not a permanent staff member of any media organisation and therefore not entitled to any contractual benefits such as sick pay, annual leave, social security or pension.
- those who can show proof that their income is solely from professional news journalism (excluding material produced for trade publications, travel guides, advocacy and campaigning materials, etc).
- those who can provide proof of income and outgoings for the last six months, two reference letters and evidence of their latest published work.
- those who can provide evidence of the situation requiring financial support, evidence of professional journalistic work, two work reference letters and two contacts of sources that can support the request for financial assistance.
The online application which is available in English will be treated in the strictest confidence while grant applications will be individually considered by The Rory Peck Trust.
Enquiries in respect of the application process are expected to be directed to:assistance@rorypecktrust.org.
