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 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 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:
- Photo captions: 001 - First Minister and deputy First
Minister were joined by
representatives of the eight organisations that will share
£1.2m through the EVAWG Regional Change Fund to deliver
initiatives that will help bring an end to violence
against women and girls.
005 - First Minister and deputy First
Minister launched the
£1.2m EVAWG Regional Change Fund at an event in
the Stormont Estate.
- 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.
