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PCC reaffirms commitment to preventing violence against women and girls with new funding boost

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has unveiled plans to invest in new community-driven safety projects aimed at protecting women and girls from violence.

Delivering on a key Police and Crime Plan priority, the PCC is dedicating the next round of his Community Action Fund (CAF) exclusively to projects which aim to make women and girls safer and reduce their risk of violence.

Charities, parish councils, voluntary and other community-based organisations are being invited to apply for grants of up to £10K to support the PCC’s mission to build safer, healthier and more prosperous communities.

Whether it is supporting victims and survivors of abuse, educating young people, disrupting misogynistic attitudes or behaviour or introducing measures to prevent offending happening in the first place, the round aims to empower community organisations to develop practical solutions to make a meaningful difference to women’s safety across the force area.

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “Violence against women and girls is unacceptable and we must work earlier and faster to protect potential victims.

“The theme of ‘prevention’ lies at the foundation of my Police and Crime Plan, interlocking all my safety priorities. For this reason, this funding round will pay close attention to projects that target the roots causes of VAWG offending and challenge and disrupt harmful attitudes and patterns of behaviour before they escalate.

“The risks of VAWG emerge in childhood and continue to expose young people to threats in many, often hidden, ways as they grow. The earlier we intervene the higher the likelihood we can promote change before the onset of offending, ultimately preventing more victims.

“Our communities are well-placed to deliver crime prevention, and I am pleased to be able to expand these vital activities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Community safety is a shared responsibility, and we must work tirelessly as a team to serve our victims better.”

Funding will be invested into a range of initiatives including:

  • Workshops on healthy relationships through the delivery of sessions in schools or community settings to teach individuals about consent, respect and how to identify coercive control.

  • Bystander Intervention Training for communities, workplaces or sports clubs on how to safely challenge harmful behaviour and support victims.

  • Digital safety and online abuse awareness workshops for parents, young people or community groups on identifying online misogyny, reporting image-based abuse and staying safe online.

  • Workplace VAWG training involving employer-focused sessions on responding to disclosures, creating safer cultures and implementing a safer well-informed workplace.

  • Awareness and Cultural Change Campaigns led by the community to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote gender equality and raising awareness.

  • Trauma-informed wellbeing workshops and creative therapy sessions for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

  • Conflict resolution workshops teaching young people how to manage disputes without violence.

  • Creative arts projects involving music, drama or art to help young people express themselves and build confidence.

The PCC continues to invest in provision which supports the joint Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2024-2026 – a multiagency blueprint prioritising early intervention and collaboration with young people to prevent sexual violence across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Earlier this year, the PCC allocated funding to communities to support the ongoing delivery of the SHUSH (Speaking Honestly 2 Understand Sexual Harm - aimed at those aged 10-15) and SHARA (Sexual Harm Awareness and Recognising Abuse – aimed at those aged 16-19) programmes. These educational programmes, developed locally, address sexual harm and abuse among young girls, providing tools and understanding for making confident personal choices.

Applications for the new CAF funding round opened on Monday 20th April 2026 and will close on Sunday 14th June 2026 at 16:59pm. For further details or to apply, visit the link below.