The Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales has launched a £1m fund for charities who are tackling domestic and sexual abuse through innovative work.
The new Transform fund - a policy, practice and infrastructure- focused grants programme - is offering grants of up to £100,000 to ten charities who have a “track record of innovative work” in the domestic and sexual abuse sectors.
Charities applying must demonstrate plans to “influence policy at a local, regional or national level”; “build the evidence base through research and analysis around needs and identification of effective interventions”; “develop and share new models to help small and medium-sized specialist providers strengthen, grow and replicate good practice”; and “develop and support effective partnerships within and across sectors”.
Lloyds Bank Foundation said it has a particular interest in proposals presenting “innovative ways for small and specialist services to make a greater impact”. It will also prioritise projects which show the greatest potential in sharing learning and have a clear plan to achieve it.
Paul Streets, chief executive of Lloyds Bank Foundation (pictured), said: “At the Foundation we see ourselves not just as funders but as facilitators of change and progress. Tackling domestic and sexual abuse has always been a key priority for us; in 2015 alone we distributed £5.3m in grants to great frontline charities in this field. But we know these sectors are under real pressure, seeking a bigger voice, to strengthen, grow, develop and innovate. Through Transform we hope to help support the sector to make a greater and long-term impact. We look forward to receiving some excellent bids.”
The Transform programme forms part of the Lloyds Bank Foundation’s £3m commitment to strengthen the domestic and sexual abuse sectors and improve responses over the next three years, which was announced in November.
The grants will not be awarded for service delivery or to support the development of individual organisations. The Foundation said that charities should continue to apply to the Foundation’s Invest and Enable programmes for such work.
Applicants to the Transform programme must be registered charities with an annual income of between £25,000 and £2m and “display a relevant track record”. Partnership bids are encouraged.
Charities have until 30 September to make initial applications. More information and details on how to apply can be found here.
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