Funding
Provision for the victims of sexual offending
On the 24th November 2005, Fiona Mactaggart announced that a further £1.25 million would be placed in the Victims Fund to continue developing services for victims of sexual offending in the 2006/07 financial year. The new funding will build on the successful 2004/5 and 2005/6 schemes, where 108 awards were awarded directly to a broad cross-section of voluntary and community sector projects.
Next Application Deadline:
17/02/2006
Total Fund Value:
£1,250,000
Grant Value - maximum:
£30,000
Restrictions:
Applications will only be considered from established Voluntary and Community Sector groups/organisations in England and Wales (for example - but not exclusively - those with charitable status).
Applications from individuals will not be eligible.
Applications will only be considered from organisations with expertise and experience in developing services for this particular group of service users.
Priority will be given to extending, replicating or growing existing initiatives, rather than setting up new projects.
Priority will be given to projects designed to build the service delivery capacity and sustainability of organisations.
Funding will not be provided to support Party political activities.
Key Criteria:
Successful bids will demonstrate clearly that they satisfy all the criteria; demonstrate that the service is: delivery focused, covers an area with a high level of need/unmet need; and will cater for specific client groups for whom service provision is currently limited.
Applicants should read carefully the official guidance notes, which can be downloaded from the upper right corner of this page, before completing an application.
All projects must provide direct or indirect services for victims of sexual offending.
Direct Services include:
Acute/crisis services to meet the immediate needs of recent victims of sexual offending
Emergency call-out services or material assistance
Longer-term, case-based support, advice or advocacy
Case-based support, advice and services for victims of less recent sexual assault, including adult victims of childhood sexual abuse
Information, sign-posting or onward referral to services, perhaps via local help-lines.
Indirect services include:
Development or production of training materials, practice guidance, or other service delivery support materials
Regional or national co-ordination of local services to victims, with an emphasis on improving accessibility, quality and consistency.
Projects must also:
Have clearly stated objectives and demonstrate the extent to which those objectives support/contribute to Government aims and targets relating to victims of sexual offending. For more information see the Home Office website and the National Strategy document: A New Deal for Victims and Witnesses - links are provided at the bottom of this page.
Contain clear expenditure plans showing, for each element of the bid, the purpose of the funding and the period over which the funding will be used.
Applicant organisations must:
Have a proven track record in the development and delivery of services for victims of sexual offending. Priority will be given to organisations that can demonstrate and provide supporting evidence of a high degree of competence in this area
Demonstrate that a need for the project or service exists, and provide evidence of that need or un-met need in the proposed area of coverage (including numbers and specific client groups to be targeted), as well as the current or potential consequences of failing to meet that need
Indicate clearly the anticipated/known outcomes or benefits of providing the service and provide evidence of the benefits to service users
Demonstrate the ability to deliver measurable outcomes by the end of the funding period
Have in place and be able to describe a clear and effective system for monitoring, evaluating and reporting on service outcomes, including evidence from external evaluations which demonstrates the extent to which the service is meeting its objectives and providing value for money
Be able to demonstrate its own financial viability and the sustainability of the project beyond 2006/07, with evidence of alternative funding streams and support from other relevant bodies
Demonstrate the extent to which it works or will work in partnership with other local statutory or non-statutory groups and organisations to deliver services to victims of sexual offending.
Applications would be particularly welcome from:
organisations currently funded through the Victims Fund wishing to continue or grow successful existing services
organisations working with victims who have experienced sexual violence as a result of their membership of a minority group
organisations working with victims of stalking (where sexual violence is part of the stalking behaviour).
Application Procedure:
Applications for funding must be received in the Home Office no later than 17 February 2006. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Completed applications can also be posted or emailed to the address shown below. Please send the application in one format only (i.e. online, by post, or by email). Posted or emailed applications should be marked clearly "Grant Funding Application", either in the subject line (for emails) or in the top, right-hand corner of the envelope (for postal applications).
Organisations should also provide the names and contact details of three current or previous funders or, where this is not possible, one funding body and two additional contacts who know the work of the organisation well.
The Home Office hopes to issue all decisions on applications for funding within two months of the closing date for applications at the latest. All decisions will be issued in writing. No information on the progress or outcome of applications will be provided over the telephone.
Successful applicants will be subject to the Home Office's standard terms and conditions of grant funding. These will require, amongst other things, that detailed financial and management records are kept and made available to the Home Office, including information on service levels provided, service usage statistics, etc.
Contact Information:
For all enquiries contact:
Specialist Services Development TeamVictims and Confidence UnitOffice for Criminal Justice ReformHome Office1st Floor, Fry Building2 Marsham StreetLondonSW1P 4DFEmail: VictimsFund@homeoffice.gsi.gov.ukLast update: Monday, October 30, 2006