The Royal Literary Fund (RLF) saw applications for its hardship grants for professional writers rise 400% in the first financial quarter of 2024, The Bookseller can exclusively reveal. The RLF awards grants to authors experiencing “reduced income” or “a change in circumstances”. To be eligible, authors must have traditionally published at least two books. The charity, which delivers £5m in grants, education and outreach programmes annually, says it has seen “a nearly five-fold increase” in applications for financial support. Edward Kemp, c.e.o of the RLF, told The Bookseller: “During the first financial quarter of 2024 the Royal Literary Fund experienced a nearly fivefold increase (400%) in [applications] compared to the previous period in 2023.”

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