Supporting girls and young women affected by violence and exploitation
Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime (MOPAC) in London
Update on applications to the Girls and Young Women Local Groups Fund
Thank you for your continued interest in the Girls & Young Women Local Groups Fund.
We received a very high number of strong applications, which is a sign of the important work that is already happening across London, and the significant level of need for this work.
As detailed in the Fund documentation, all applications underwent a shortlisting process with the 30 highest scoring applications put through to moderation panel scoring.
That moderation process is now complete and ALL shortlisted applicants have been advised of the result.
Although the successful grantees have been notified, we cannot make a public announcement until due diligence is complete.
Thank you for your patience!
How to stay informed about the Girls and Young Women Local Groups Fund or potential future opportunities
To comply with UK GDPR we will be deleting all contact details of those who registered an interest in this Fund.
If you would like to continue to receive information about this work or any future opportunities, then please complete a new expression of interest form.
What the fund aims to do through its support of London-based organisations
The Girls and Young Women Local Groups Fund in London aims to strengthen both direct support and the evidence base on what works, by offering grants to London-based community groups already working with women and girls impacted by gangs, violence and exploitation.
The grants process is being overseen by Social Finance, in partnership with specialist organisations Abianda, a charity working with girls and young women affected by criminal exploitation and Agenda Alliance, a national alliance advocating for women and girls experiencing multiple unmet needs.
I’m proud to be able to support the Girls and Young Women Local Groups Fund. By delivering group work and creating safe, supportive spaces for girls and young women who have faced harm from gangs, violence and exploitation to share their experiences of what life is like, we can better meet their needs and make our city safer for every woman and girl.
Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime, MOPAC
Alongside funding to deliver group work and enable girls and young women to co-produce recommendations for improving the sector, this unique grant opportunity also offers structured development activities to support grantees and build a network of providers.
The Fund focuses on achieving outcomes across two key priorities:
Through delivery of group work, development support for grantees and co-production activities, the fund will generate the following learning and evidence to inform practice, policy and commissioning:
- Insights on what works in supporting girls and young women
- Language and definitions that are inclusive, accurate, and informed by the voices of girls and young women
- Contemporary understanding of girls and young women’s needs beyond the gang member narrative
What the local London-based groups will do
Local groups funded through this programme will have four main roles:
- To create safe spaces for girls and young women to take part in group sessions, where they can connect with others and offer each other support
- To involve girls and young women in co-design and co-production activities – helping shape services and build a better understanding of what support should look like
- To engage with development support and capacity-building, including learning sessions and networking with other grant-funded groups
- To engage with the Fund’s monitoring and learning activities to help us learn from the group work
The Fund opened for applications on 2nd January 2026 and closed 6th February 2026 at 5pm.
Webinar links
Key documents
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please reach get in touch with us at gywlocalgroupsfund@socialfinance.org.uk.