Ministers announce £1.2m Regional Change Fund for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
Date published:
Eight organisations will receive a share of £1.2million as part of a Regional Change Fund initiative aimed at tackling violence against women and girls.
The First Minister and deputy First Minister announced the major investment at an event in Belfast today. The funding is part of a wider £3.2 million Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Change Fund for community and voluntary sector organisations and a partnership with local councils.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said:
“In order to end the scourge of violence against women and girls, we need to focus on prevention and deliver initiatives that bring real and meaningful change across our society.
“We recently announced £2m to support community-based action across every local council area. We are now committing a further £1.2m to support organisations which have the expertise to lead on driving society-wide action. The funding will support groups to raise awareness and help everyone understand what violence against women and girls is and know how to prevent it. This investment and partnership working is a start. We will build on it, share learning, and do more to end violence against women and girls.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said:
“Violence against women and girls must stop and we are committed to doing everything we can to tackle this important issue.
"The eight community and voluntary sector organisations who have received this funding will bring years of expertise and learning which will ensure the projects delivered will make a difference.
“I know these organisations will also work together to support other local initiatives and to encourage wider society to take action.
“This is something that cannot be resolved by Government alone, and through the Change Fund we can ensure we place resources where they will be used to the best effect and have the most impact.
“By working together, we can end violence against women and girls.”
The eight organisations that will receive funding under the Regional Change Fund are: Nexus, Women’s Aid Federation NI (WAFNI), Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA), Relate NI, White Ribbon NI, Youth Action, NSPCC, and Barnardo’s NI. The Executive Office is partnering with Belfast City Council to deliver the fund.
Notes to editors:
- The Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Team in The Executive Office is responsible for the Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls and the first Delivery Plan.
- This is a seven year Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls. There is a first two year (2024-2026) Delivery Plan that accompanies this EVAWG Strategic Framework.
- The Change Fund is a fundamental part of delivering the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework as it focuses on prevention; specifically challenging attitudes, behaviours and culture, education on healthy and respectful relationships and striving to ensure women and girls are safe and feel safe everywhere.
- TEO is investing £3.2m over the next 15 months (Jan 2025 – Mar 2026) in community-based action to help end violence against women and girls. £1.2 million of this is for the Regional Change Fund.
- The eight organisations that will receive funding under the Regional Change Fund are: Nexus, Women's Aid Federation NI (WAFNI), Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA), Relate NI, White Ribbon NI, Youth Action, NSPCC, and Barnardo's NI.
- The work of these organisations will be supported by a total of £1.2million to expand their vital on the ground projects and responses. They will raise awareness of violence against women and girls, increase understanding of the issue, and build capacity to take action, and equip people to have safe and healthy relationships.
- Belfast City Council are partnering with The Executive Office to administer the Regional Change Fund.