The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a further £9 million investment to support victims and survivors of violence against women and girls, strengthening specialist services across the capital and helping women rebuild their lives with safety, dignity and independence.
The funding package includes £6 million for a third round of the Mayor’s VAWG Grassroots Fund, alongside £3 million to design and commission a new specialist service that will help survivors gain skills, access employment, and achieve financial independence – a critical step in breaking the cycle of abuse.
The VAWG Grassroots Fund provides targeted support through small, local and specialist organisations working directly with women and girls from Black, Asian and minority‑ethnic backgrounds and other underrepresented groups.
To date, the fund has supported 57 organisations, reached more than 56,800 women, girls and families, and prioritised minoritised and marginalised communities disproportionately affected by abuse.
The additional £6 million will ensure thousands more survivors can access vital services such as legal advice, counselling and trauma-informed support. These services often provide the first safe route out of abuse and play a central role in recovery.
Recognising the role of economic abuse in trapping women in dangerous situations, the Mayor has committed £3 million to develop a new specialist employment and skills service.
The service will support survivors to:
- Gain new skills
- Access training and employment
- Remove financial barriers to independence
- Rebuild confidence and autonomy
This intervention is designed to help survivors escape coercive control and reduce the risk of returning to abusive partners due to financial pressure – a risk heightened by the ongoing cost‑of‑living crisis.
To mark International Women’s Day, the giant screens at Outernet London will display a message from the Mayor, calling on Londoners to champion, respect and believe women.
This comes amid rising concern about the online spread of misogyny, including bot‑generated content and influential figures profiting from harmful narratives aimed at degrading women and girls.
This latest funding sits on top of the record £277 million the Mayor has already invested to:
- Support specialist services
- Reduce waiting lists
- Keep doors open for frontline VAWG providers
- Strengthen London‑wide safeguarding partnerships
A refreshed VAWG strategy will be launched this spring, setting the direction for the next phase of the Mayor’s work to prevent violence, protect survivors and challenge the culture that allows misogyny and abuse to flourish.
Mayor of London Sadi Khan commented:
“Supporting victims and survivors to rebuild their lives and protecting them from abuse is at the heart of my work to tackle violence against women and girls and keep all Londoners safe.
“That’s why today, I’ve set out an additional £9million to deliver more support for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Our work with women’s refuges across the capital has highlighted how too often victims and survivors are forced to return to abusive situations because of debt and financial dependence. A new specialised service I am funding will now help women and girls build skills and get jobs.
“A new round of my VAWG Grassroots Fund will also ensure survivors can access vital support including legal advice, counselling and other key services to help rebuild their lives. I'm determined to build on our collective efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, as we work to build a safer London for everyone.”
For local authorities, health partners, criminal justice agencies and community organisations, the new investment represents:
- Greater stability for specialist grassroots services
- Enhanced capacity to support survivors at higher risk
- A stronger multi‑agency approach to ending VAWG
- Additional tools to address the economic drivers of abuse
With demand for VAWG support remaining high, this funding reinforces London’s commitment to ensuring survivors receive the help they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
Image credit: iStock
