Grants for Projects Supporting Girls and Young Women Affected by Violence

21 Jan

Advice on how to bid to a new London-wide grant programme to support girls and young women affected by violence, gangs and exploitation.

Applicants for funding are expected to provide safe environments for group-based support. Picture: AdobeStock

The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has launched the Girls and Young Women Local Groups Fund.

London-based community organisations working with girls and young women affected by violence, gangs and exploitation can apply for funding to deliver group-based support and create safe spaces for this group.

Successful applicants will also take part in development activity designed to strengthen practice and build a wider network of providers across the capital.

What does the fund aim to do?

The Girls and Young Women Local Groups Fund will back community organisations supporting girls and young women affected by gangs, violence and exploitation, while also helping to build stronger evidence about which approaches deliver the greatest impact.

The programme will be delivered by Social Finance with specialist partners Abianda and Agenda Alliance, who bring expertise in supporting girls affected by criminal exploitation and campaigning for women and girls with unmet needs.

In addition to funding delivery and co-production, the programme offers hands-on development support to help grantees build capacity and form a strong network across London.

What are the key priorities?

The Fund has two main aims:

To improve the quality of support for girls and young women
To build a strong network of organisations working in this area

Through group sessions, shared learning and co-production with girls and young women, the programme will help build clearer evidence about what works. This includes:

A better understanding of which approaches are most effective
Language that reflects girls’ and young women’s lived experiences
A fuller picture of their needs that moves beyond “gang member” labels and stereotypes.

What will local groups do?

Funded organisations will be expected to fulfil four core roles:

Providing safe environments for group-based support, enabling girls and young women to build connections and peer support
Taking part in development and capacity-building activity, including learning sessions and networking with other funded organisations
Contributing to monitoring and learning activity to strengthen the evidence base and inform future practice
Involving girls and young women in co-design and co-production to help shape services and define what good support looks like.

Who is eligible?

This fund is open to London-based organisations that already support girls and young women affected by violence, exploitation or gang involvement. It builds on the good work already taking place, while creating space to develop new and sustainable approaches to support.

Applications are welcome from organisations that either:

Already run group sessions for girls and young women, or
Work closely with this group and want to develop their experience of group-based support.

MOPAC is particularly keen to hear from smaller, community-led organisations.

This funding is available to groups working in London only.

How much is available?

The programme has a total funding pot of £610,000, with individual grants ranging from £25,000 to £80,000 for projects running between June 2026 and June 2027.

How to apply?

Applications are now open and will close on 6 February 2026 at 5pm. All applications must be submitted via the online application form.

For further information, organisations can contact: gywlocalgroupsfund@socialfinance.org.uk

What’s been said?

Kaya Comer-Schwartz, London Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said: “By delivering group work and creating safe, supportive spaces for girls and young women who have faced harm from gangs, violence and exploitation to share their experiences, we can better meet their needs and make our city safer for every woman and girl.”

Lily-Rose Morris-Zumin