What is the Airey Neave Trust
The Airey Neave Trust is a charity, registered under charity number 297269, whose purpose is to support and promote research that contributes in a practical way to the struggle against international terrorist activity and to protect or enhance personal freedom under democratic law. The Trust was established in 1987.
What the Trust Supports — Grants and Research Funding
The Trust makes grants mainly in the form of research fellowships. These fellowships are offered to scholars in established university departments who submit proposals on any topic that helps to protect or enhance personal freedom under the law, either nationally or internationally. The Trust gives favourable consideration to research outputs designed to have a tangible impact, especially those contributing to efforts to prevent or respond to terrorism and political violence.
Other Forms of Support
Beyond research funding, the Trust’s charitable objectives allow for providing financial or other relief to individuals in need who have become refugees through well-founded fear of persecution, along with potential support for their dependants.
Eligibility and Purpose of Grants
Grant applicants are generally academic researchers from universities. Their proposed research must align with the Trust’s mission — that is, it must relate to personal freedom under democratic law, human rights, or the prevention of political violence. Favorable proposals are those likely to produce practical results or influence policy, such as scholarly articles, reports, or policy-oriented publications.
Governance and Financial Snapshot
The Trust is managed by a board of trustees, which currently has ten members. According to the most recent publicly available accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025, the Trust’s total income was £15,417 and its expenditure was £53,786. The Trust does not pay its trustees any remuneration or benefits.
Background and Mission — Why It Was Created
The Trust commemorates Airey Neave, a politician, soldier, and lawyer whose life was cut short by terrorism. The Trust honours his legacy by funding research aimed at protecting democratic freedoms, human rights, and combating political violence and terrorism.
