New funding boost to help protect thousands of young people from sexual violence
Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has opened the door to a new funding opportunity to help communities protect children and young people from sexual violence.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner is inviting community organisations that work with young people to apply for one of six £1k grants to deliver specialist sexual violence prevention education for young people aged 10 to 19 across the city and two counties.
The funding, which has been set aside from the PCC’s budget for VAWG training to deliver his VAWG prevention work, will support 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.
It will support the ongoing delivery of the SHUSH (Speaking Honestly 2 Understand Sexual Harm) and SHARA (Sexual Harm Awareness and Recognising Abuse) programmes targeting education towards young people aged 10-15 and 16-19 respectively. These educational programmes, developed locally, address sexual harm and abuse among young girls, providing tools and understanding for making confident personal choices.
They cover topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent, boundaries and personal space, sexual harassment and assault, grooming, sexting and online harms, bystander intervention and gendered violence, misogyny and managing rejection.
Up to six community organisations will be selected to receive funding in the latest round to reimburse them for time spent training and delivering the programmes. Each provider will receive funding to train a lead facilitator and co-facilitator on the project.
Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “The response to this project since launching has been overwhelmingly positive, with providers really embracing the opportunity to educate and empower their staff and the young people they work with.
“Young people are exposed to sexual violence risks in many ways, some of which are subtle and harder to identify. These programmes not only illuminate some of these hidden harms and give young people the skills needed to recognise them, they also initiative positive conversations and provide a safe space for young people to share their concerns with trusted adults. Parents, mentors and educators have warmly welcomed the information, alongside young people themselves.
“Through this latest round of funding, we aim to reach even more young people across the force area and upskill those who work directly with young people to prevent VAWG impacting more victims in the future. VAWG poses significant and lasting risks for young people as they grow up, impacting every area of their physical and mental health. It is vital we act as early as possible.”
The PCC is working with the Violence Reduction Network (VRN) and other criminal justice and public sector agencies to tackle VAWG.
Organisations within the Charnwood, Hinckley & Bosworth, East Leicester and West Leicester areas will be prioritised in the current funding round.
Applications can be submitted from Monday 19 January 2026 and close on Monday 2 February 2026.
For more information or to apply, visit:
Ends