Helping Subpostmasters rebuild their lives
On April 23 2021, the Court of Appeal overturned the convictions of 39 Subpostmasters who had been wrongly accused and prosecuted by the Post Office using evidence from a faulty software system called Horizon.
Over a period of 15 years the Post Office prosecuted more than 700 people and ruined the lives of many more, by taking away their livelihoods and savings under threat of prosecution. Many people suffered years of guilt, shame and financial hardship. Families were torn apart and in many cases the stress of the situation induced severe mental health trauma.
The Horizon Scandal Fund exists to help people by disbursing small cash grants to those in need. The grants could be for access to legal advice, counselling, therapy, travel, social events, hardship alleviation and much more.
If you are a subpostmaster who needs some help, you can read more about how to apply for a grant here.
If you wish to support our activities you can make a donation here.
Over a period of 15 years the Post Office prosecuted more than 700 people and ruined the lives of many more, by taking away their livelihoods and savings under threat of prosecution. Many people suffered years of guilt, shame and financial hardship. Families were torn apart and in many cases the stress of the situation induced severe mental health trauma.
The Horizon Scandal Fund exists to help people by disbursing small cash grants to those in need. The grants could be for access to legal advice, counselling, therapy, travel, social events, hardship alleviation and much more.
If you are a subpostmaster who needs some help, you can read more about how to apply for a grant here.
If you wish to support our activities you can make a donation here.
How we are funded
The initial funding came from 10% of the proceeds from sales of the book - The Great Post Office Scandal - donated by the publishers and the author. We can also take donations from the public.
What we WILL do with the money
We will consider all applications from those who have been directly or indirectly affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal. The specific wording on our registration application to the Charities Commission states:
The Objects of the Charity are such purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the Trustees may from time to time determine, in particular (but not exclusively) the relief or prevention of hardship, poverty, sickness and distress among those people affected by the conduct of Post Office Limited and/or those associated with Post Office Limited in connection with a computer accounting system commonly known as Horizon.
The Objects of the Charity are such purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the Trustees may from time to time determine, in particular (but not exclusively) the relief or prevention of hardship, poverty, sickness and distress among those people affected by the conduct of Post Office Limited and/or those associated with Post Office Limited in connection with a computer accounting system commonly known as Horizon.
who we are
The four launch trustees for the Horizon Scandal Fund are David Chaplin (Chair), Helen Lacey, Nick Wallis and Nicola Wallis. We have also welcomed 3 more trustees since the launch: Varchas Patel, Sandra Tizzard and Helen Baker. Find out more about us here.
