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We are pleased to announce that Comic Relief have partnered with Esmée Fairbairn Foundation(opens in new window) and The Clothworkers Foundation(opens in new window) to re-launch our targeted Tech vs Abuse funding programme.
We are investing £600,000 into grants to encourage technological innovation and creative digital solutions to improve the safety of women and girls affected by domestic abuse.
Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations. Many are unable to use technology safely or proactively to access support, and many services could benefit from the potential offered by technology to increase their reach and accessibility. We are committed to supporting women and girls to take the lead in creating change that will enable everyone to live safe and fulfilling lives.
This is why we will be inviting applications to create, adapt, scale up or roll out digital solutions, with the application window expected to open in late May.
In-depth and extensive sector research and discovery, in the first round of Tech vs Abuse funding resulted in the creation of the design challenges(opens in new window), a set of solutions that would make the most immediate difference to people affected by domestic abuse. Applicant organisations were invited and prompted to address one of these design challenges in their proposals.
This next iteration of the funding programme will revisit and update these design challenges in time for opening the application window in late May.
As part of the programme, up to 12 funded partners will be offered a monetary award of up to £50,000 for twelve months alongside access to support from experts and advisors, plus the opportunity to collaborate and share learning with other organisations in the cohort.
While frontline services and strategic advocacy work remain the necessary backbone of support for survivors of abuse, we recognise that funders have a role to play in enabling charities in this sector to increase the range of products and services accessible and available to the people they help in an increasingly digital world.
We are excited that 2019 will see the launch of the second funding round of this initiative, after the successful first round of Tech vs Abuse funding in 2017 funded 10 organisations through joint funding from Comic Relief, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport via the Tampon Tax Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.
Prospective applicants should keep an eye on our funding opportunities page, where details and link to applications will be posted.
