Ockenden International is a charity that has been helping refugees and displaced people across the globe for more than 70 years. It launched its International Prize in 2012.
Submissions are now being accepted for the 2025 Ockenden International Prizes for locally-based and/or refugee led organisations with projects proven to advance refugee self-reliance, and which reward and recognise the agency, dignity and autonomy of refugees and forced migrants anywhere in the world.
This year, the £100,000 prize has been expanded to £125,000 with five equal unrestricted grants of £25,000 each. The new, fifth, prize will be for a project or program that has successfully advanced self-reliance for refugees and asylum-seekers living in the UK.
The prize money must only be used to help refugees and/or displaced persons and/or asylum-seekers in need. It is anticipated that, in general, prize money will be used to continue or extend the project referred to in the entry or for a similar future project run by the organisation.
Registered charities in the UK can apply either on their own organisation's behalf or nominate a non-profit partner or affiliated organisation legally registered in their home country.
The project or programme entered must have been established and operational for at least six months before 1 March 2024 to be eligible for the 2025 Prizes.
The judges will, in particular, look for:
- Projects that promote self-reliance among refugees and/or displaced people. This may include (but is not limited to) projects that are led by or have a high level of participation from displaced people themselves; projects providing education, legal assistance, livelihoods assistance or any other programmes that help refugees and/or displaced people build stable, independent lives.
- Projects that have proved to be highly effective in improving the lives of refugees and/or displaced people.
- Projects that have led to real change in the lives of refugees or displaced people.
- Effective initiatives, with measurable evidence of project/programme outcomes.
The winners are announced each Spring. The UK based Connected Routes CIC won one of the 2024 awards for 'The Routes Mentoring Programme' which focused on the one-to-one mentoring of women.
The deadline for the 2025 competition is 30 November 2024 (midnight).
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