Grants Available to Support Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

A community grants programme aimed at helping end violence against women and girls is now open for applications.

Launched by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in support of the NI Executive’s seven-year Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWAG), the grants programme is designed to assist voluntary, community and social enterprise groups in addressing this issue.

Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Change Fund 2025/26 is a fundamental part of delivering the EVAWG Strategic Framework and is part of a wider £3.2m investment for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) announced by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister last month. £2m has been made available across the 11 Councils in Northern Ireland, of which £165,000 has been allocated to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to support the Local Change Fund.

These grants are available for initiatives that aim to prevent violence and drive the society wide action ensuring that everyone understands what violence against women and girls is and how to prevent it by educating people on positive behaviour.

There are three tiers of grant funding available for projects taking place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026:

• Tier 1 - grants between £1,000 and £5,000
• Tier 2 - grants between £5,001 and £15,000
• Tier 3 - grants between £15,001 and up to £25,000

Applications should focus on key EVAWG prevention outcomes: challenging the attitudes, behaviours and cultures that cause violence against women and girls, promoting education on healthy and respectful relationships and to help women and girls to feel and be safe everywhere.

Launching the scheme, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Pete Byrne said, “The Local Change Fund grant aid provided by The Executive Office provides vital support to local community and voluntary organisations working at grassroots level across our district to play a proactive role in educating communities, promoting safe and healthy relationships and helping women and girls to feel safe.”

For more information on the Newry, Mourne and Down EVAWG Local Change Fund and to apply for financial assistance visit: www.newrymournedown.org/residents-grants-and-funding

Please note that applications must be submitted by 12 noon on Monday 24 February 2025.