Article 11 Trust

The Article 11 Trust, founded in 2020 by members of UK protest rights groups like Netpol, is a specialist charitable organisation dedicated to defending and advancing freedom of assembly and association under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Amid rising threats from heavy-handed policing, legislative restrictions, and resource barriers, it champions social justice, equality, and collective action, providing targeted support to ensure marginalised communities—especially Black and other underrepresented groups—can protest safely and effectively. Its movement-led approach emphasises research into disproportionate policing, education on legal contexts, and practical legal guidance/training, funding voluntary organisations, grassroots movements, legal collectives, and infrastructure providers to build knowledge, capacity, and advocacy for protest rights.

It supports UK-registered charities and community groups operating UK-wide, with a preference for small-to-medium, resource-excluded entities like protest campaigns and legal observers facing government targeting; individuals are rarely funded. There are no strict income thresholds, but it prioritises non-mainstream groups embedded in frontline movements.

Grants typically range from £5,000 to £25,000 for project work, core costs, capacity building, research, or emergency legal support—mostly revenue-based, with unrestricted funding exceptional. Invite-only and strategic, it does not accept unsolicited applications; trustees approach or network-recommend partners responsively to urgent political/legal shifts, with ad hoc decisions and no fixed deadlines (specific calls like fellowships are website-advertised).

Distinct from generalist funders, the Trust excludes capital projects, broad social issues, or non-protest work, standing out for its laser-focus on civil liberties, deep ties to protest ecosystems, and agile response to UK crackdowns, making it ideal for aligned legal empowerment and advocacy efforts.