Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Change Fund

Overview

Introduction

The Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Strategic Framework was launched by the Executive in September 2024. It intends to bring together a whole of society and whole of government response to address this issue which impacts the lives of far too many women and girls across our society. 

The main focus of this strategy is on prevention. This recognises that tackling the underlying causes of violence, abuse and harm towards women and girls and stopping it before it starts is vital. The Strategy includes a first Delivery Plan (2024-26) and will support those organisations working to prevent and challenge the attitudes, behaviours and culture that can lead to violence against women and girls. It will deliver real change for those who suffer harm and abuse across our society every day.

Purpose of Grant Programme

• Outcome 1: Changed attitudes, behaviours, and culture - Everyone in society understands what violence against women and girls is, including its root causes, and plays an active role in preventing it
• Outcome 2: Healthy, respectful relationships – Everyone in society is equipped and empowered to enjoy healthy, respectful relationships 
• Outcome 3: Women and girls are safe and feel safe everywhere – Organisations and institutions across government and society embed the prevention of violence against women and girls in all that they do, so that women and girls are safe and feel safe everywhere 

The Change Fund will help to mobilise grassroots action, support innovative delivery and maximise the impact of community-led initiatives contributing to the Prevention outcomes of the EVAWG Strategic Framework.

Choosing which outcomes your project will focus on:

All projects supported by the Change Fund must include a focus on Outcome 1 and specifically demonstrate how project proposals will increase awareness and understanding of what violence against women and girls is, including its root causes.

In addition to Outcome 1, applicants can also demonstrate how their project proposals contribute to Outcomes 2 and/or 3. Note that projects will not necessarily score higher if multiple outcomes are selected and/or have a higher budget, the assessment process will focus on the quality, proportionate impact, and investment effectiveness (including value for money) of the proposal – these can be considered high or low regardless of a project’s budget or its focus on one or more outcomes.

Funding Levels

The EVAWG Change Fund will be administered and supported by Council and will provide grant funding up to a maximum of £25,000 to successful community groups operating within their local district. The minimum grant awarded will be £1,500. Funding can be applied for within three tiers of support: 

1. Tier 1: grants up to £1,500 
   1. Proposals might be for one-off events, projects, workshops or small clusters of activity aimed at awareness raising and aligned with all or some of the prevention outcomes in the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework 1, 2 and 3. (Outcome 1 is mandatory)
2. Tier 2: grants up to £10,000 
   1. Proposals might include expansion/enhancement of activities described in Tier 1, as well as planned programmes of activity, longer running initiatives, educational courses* aligned with all or some of the prevention outcomes in the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework 1, 2 and 3. (Outcome 1 is mandatory) 
   2. * Training must be provided by an accredited/affiliated training provider that specialises within this area of expertise (i.e. Women’s aid, White Ribbon, Nexus and ONUS)
3. Tier 3: grants up to £25,000
   1. Proposals might be for planned programmes of activity, longer running initiatives, educational course aligned with some or all of the prevention outcomes in the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework 1, 2 and 3. (Outcome 1 is mandatory). Awards may also be for activities described in Tiers 1 and 2. and
   2. Proposals must demonstrate an aspect of mentoring or significant collaboration 
      1. By ‘mentoring’ we mean where a more experienced organisation with better developed capacity will assist another less experienced organisation or organisations in developing the skills and knowledge to perform more effectively. This may include sharing resources and networks. This is with a view to building the capacity of the mentored organisation. 
      2. Collaboration is defined as working with organisation(s) of a similar level/capacity and can include working with both voluntary and statutory organisations

Applicants Can Apply to Multiple Tiers: An applicant is allowed to submit one application for each available tier (e.g. different levels of funding, project categories, or program types). 

Only One Award Per Applicant: Regardless of how many tiers an applicant applies to, they can only receive funding or approval for one project. If multiple applications are successful, the awarding body will likely decide which single project to award. 

Delivery of successful projects and all grant funding must be incurred in full during the 2025-26 financial year (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026).

General Principles 

The fundamental principles underpinning this policy are:

Funding Award is based on evidenced need 

The aim of grant funding is to provide financial support for projects and activities that add benefit to the Borough and contribute to improving the lives of local people and places. The following requirements MUST be met to be considered for funding: 

• Have a clear purpose to the activity based on clearly evidenced need 
• Be able to demonstrate how their project meets relevant funding criteria 
• Can deliver high quality desired outcomes in a cost effective manner 
• The applicant organisation can demonstrate that it is well run with the capacity to deliver the project as stated 
• Reflect the statutory remit of the Council, aligned to the Corporate Plan and Community Plan

Who can apply? 

Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) organisations from within the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough may apply for funding. 

These are understood as: “not-for-profit organisations that support a wide range of social, environmental and economic outcomes and rely to a large extent on voluntary contributions through their boards of trustees, formal volunteering and donations. The sector spans a very diverse range of organisations in terms of scale and focus of operations and interests. 

• Volunteers define and drive this sector, but organisations will also all have some sort of formal structure or constitution. They are self-governing and independent from government or the private sector. They have social objectives and work to benefit the community. They may operate a social enterprise or community business but any profits will be re-invested for community benefit”.

Some of these organisations may be registered charities. It may also include, for example, arts, faith, youth and sporting organisations. The eligibility of these and other organisations/groupings will be considered against the broad definition set out in above, including its emphasis on ‘not-for-profit’, ‘formal structure or constitution’ and that ‘they have social objectives and work to benefit the community’. Belonging to or being affiliated with larger organisations does not exclude individual branches from applying. 

Grassroots organisations

 The term ‘grassroots organisations’ is used in this document to refer to CVS organisations whose primary operations and beneficiaries are at local level, meaning within the specific local council area to which they are making an application to the EVAWG Change Fund. 

This fund is also open to umbrella organisations who have a location based within the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough 

What can be funded? 

Expenditure will potentially be considered eligible if clearly demonstrated by applicants that such expenditure will equip community groups to prevent violence against women and girls. There must be clear linkage between proposed activities (and associated expenditure) and the EVAWG prevention outcomes: changing attitudes, behaviour and culture; healthy, respectful relations; women and girls feel safe and are safe everywhere. 

Examples of eligible expenditure might include 

event costs; design and publishing; filming/photography/animations, website and other digital content development (if directly supporting project activities); marketing and development and/or delivery and/or attendance at relevant training* and resources; research; facilitation costs; counselling and related support services; small items of the equipment (under £1,000) essential to delivery of the project; development and delivery of relevant performances and creative initiatives. 

* Training must be provided by an accredited/affiliated training provider that specialises within this area of expertise (i.e. Women’s aid, White Ribbon, Nexus and ONUS)

Other potential eligible expenditure includes proportionate administrative/staff costs and/or running costs directly and necessarily incurred in the delivery of the proposed activity and agreed in the Letter of Offer to the applicant. 

The EVAWG Change Fund aims to equip community groups to prevent to violence against women and girls. This means ways to mobilise grassroots action and maximise the impact of community-led initiatives contributing to the Prevention outcomes of the EVAWG Strategic Framework