Youth Endowment Fund Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention Programme: Objective 2 Grant 2026 for Organizations Delivering Early Intervention in Educational Settings. ·Unknown

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has opened applications for its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention Programme – Objective 2, offering funding to organizations working to address inappropriate and problematic attitudes and behaviours surrounding gender norms and relationships among children and young people in educational settings across England.

This funding opportunity is part of a broader three-year programme aimed at identifying and expanding evidence-based interventions that help prevent violence against women and girls before harmful behaviours escalate. Successful applicants will receive funding not only to deliver their intervention but also to participate in an independent evaluation that will contribute to national evidence on effective prevention strategies.

Organizations with proven interventions, strong delivery experience, and a commitment to improving young people’s understanding of respectful relationships are encouraged to apply.

About the Youth Endowment Fund Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention Programme

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) was established in 2019 with a £200 million endowment and a ten-year mandate from the UK Home Office to identify and support effective strategies that prevent children and young people from becoming involved in violence.

Violence against women and girls remains a significant challenge across society. Preventing harmful behaviours before they develop into serious violence requires early intervention, education, and evidence-based support systems.

This funding opportunity directly supports the UK Government’s Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy, published in December 2025, particularly its commitment to prevention and early intervention among young people.

Objective 2 specifically focuses on helping schools and educational settings respond effectively when children and young people begin displaying concerning attitudes and behaviours relating to gender norms and relationships.

Purpose of the Grant

The programme aims to fund targeted interventions that identify and respond to emerging inappropriate and problematic attitudes and behaviours before they escalate into serious forms of abuse or violence.

Rather than waiting until statutory services such as policing, children’s social care, or youth justice become necessary, the programme supports early intervention approaches that can positively influence young people’s attitudes and behaviours.

The overall goal is to strengthen educational settings so they are better equipped to identify, manage, and prevent harmful behaviours while promoting healthy, respectful, and equal relationships.

What the Grant Will Fund

The Youth Endowment Fund is looking for organizations delivering targeted interventions that work with children and young people aged 10–18 years.

Projects should primarily focus on supporting pupils displaying early signs of problematic attitudes and behaviours relating to gender norms and relationships.

Funded interventions may include:

• Direct support for children and young people displaying concerning behaviours.
• Programmes promoting healthy, respectful, and equal relationships.
• Behaviour change interventions.
• Early identification tools and resources.
• Training programmes for teachers and school staff.
• Support systems that strengthen schools’ responses to emerging concerns.
• Educational resources that improve safeguarding practices.
• Collaborative work between schools and community partners where there is a strong educational link.

Projects may involve community-based delivery where appropriate, provided there is a clear connection with educational institutions.

Focus on Secondary Prevention

This funding round specifically supports secondary prevention.

Secondary prevention involves identifying early warning signs and providing targeted support before behaviours become severe enough to require intervention from statutory agencies.

Examples include:

• Addressing unhealthy gender stereotypes.
• Challenging problematic relationship attitudes.
• Preventing harmful behaviours from escalating.
• Supporting young people at risk of developing abusive behaviours.
• Building healthier relationship skills.

Evidence-Based Interventions Required

Applicants should note that the Youth Endowment Fund is not seeking entirely new programmes developed from scratch.

Instead, proposals should demonstrate that interventions are already informed by:

• Existing research.
• Proven theory.
• Academic literature.
• Established practice.
• Previous implementation experience.
• Evidence showing promise.

However, interventions may still require refinement or adaptation before undergoing larger-scale evaluation.

Independent Evaluation

An important feature of this grant is that every funded project will also undergo an independent evaluation.

The Youth Endowment Fund will appoint external evaluators who will work alongside funded organizations to:

• Co-design evaluation methods.
• Assess implementation quality.
• Measure outcomes.
• Generate evidence of effectiveness.
• Inform future policy and investment decisions.

Funding is only available for projects willing to participate fully in this evaluation process.

Standalone project delivery without evaluation will not be supported.

Evaluation Scale

Most funded interventions are expected to participate in either:

• Feasibility studies
• Pilot evaluations

Applicants should propose:

• Appropriate evaluation design.
• Expected delivery scale.
• Estimated project budget.

Final evaluation arrangements will be agreed collaboratively during the co-design phase with YEF and the appointed evaluator.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for funding, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Location

• The intervention must be delivered in England.

Eligible Organizations

Applicants must be one of the following:

• Registered charity
• Registered company
• Statutory body
• Community Interest Company (CIC)

Intervention Requirements

Projects must:

• Focus on early targeted support.
• Address inappropriate and problematic attitudes and behaviours regarding gender norms and relationships.
• Operate primarily within educational settings.
• Support children and young people aged 10–18 years (or up to age 19 in SEND settings).
• Demonstrate a clear educational link.
• Improve knowledge, attitudes, or behaviours that contribute to preventing violence against women and girls.
• Be sufficiently developed for evaluation.
• Include an emerging Theory of Change.

Organizational Capacity

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Relevant experience.
• Strong partnerships where appropriate.
• Ability to deliver the proposed intervention successfully.
• Understanding of the target population and educational context.

Evaluation Commitment

Applicants must agree to:

• Participate in independent evaluation.
• Collaborate throughout co-design.
• Support delivery and evaluation activities.

Click HERE to register.

Application Process

Interested organizations must submit:

• Completed application form.
• Completed budget template.
• All required supporting information.

Applications should be emailed to:

grants@youthendowmentfund.org.uk

Subject line:

VAWG Prevention Programme – Objective 2

Applicants should carefully review the official application guidance before submitting their proposals.

Information Webinar

Organizations interested in applying can attend an information webinar to better understand the funding opportunity and ask questions.

Webinar Details

• Date: Thursday, 23 July 2026
• Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

A recording will be published on the Youth Endowment Fund website for those unable to attend.

Funding Timeline

Application Deadline

9:00 AM (BST), Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Late applications are unlikely to be considered.

To learn more about the opportunity visit HERE and Apply.

Why Organizations Should Apply

Successful applicants will benefit from:

• Funding for intervention delivery.
• Independent evaluation support.
• Opportunity to strengthen evidence of programme effectiveness.
• Contribution to national violence prevention strategies.
• Collaboration with the Youth Endowment Fund and government partners.
• Increased credibility through rigorous evaluation.
• Potential to scale evidence-based interventions in the future.

Conclusion

The Youth Endowment Fund’s Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention Programme – Objective 2 represents a significant opportunity for organizations committed to preventing harmful attitudes and behaviours among children and young people. By investing in evidence-informed interventions delivered within educational settings, the programme aims to build stronger prevention systems, improve safeguarding practices, and contribute to long-term reductions in violence against women and girls. Organizations with established interventions and the capacity to participate in independent evaluation are encouraged to prepare high-quality applications before the 9:00 AM, Wednesday, 2 September 2026 deadline.

For more Grants opportunity from OFY CLICK HERE.