Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has launched the second phase of its Change Fund, which forms part of a seven-year strategic framework led by the Northern Ireland Executive Office to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG).

The council is offering funding of up to £25,000 to a wide range of organisations across the community, sports, arts and faith-based sectors. This initiative is part of a wider £3.2 million investment over seven years, with this first step seeing £2m shared across all 11 councils to support EVAWG action in their local areas.

The fund seeks to address gender-based violence, abuse, and harm which is disproportionately experienced by women and girls in Northern Ireland. Since 2020, 27 women have been violently killed, all but one by a man, with 44 confirmed femicides since 2017. Councillor Tim Mitchell, Communities and Wellbeing Chair, urged eligible groups to apply, stating that the Change Fund is a "vital step in building a community where everyone feels safe and respected."

Councillor Alan Martin, PCSP Chair, added that the continued high level of violence is "appalling", and that the fund focuses on prevention, giving people the tools to know what violence is and how to take action against it.

The fund focuses on three key outcomes: changing attitudes, promoting respectful relationships, and helping women and girls to feel safe. Completed applications must be submitted online no later than 7 September 2025.

The Council welcomes applications from a wide range of organisations across the community, sports, arts and faith-based sectors, please visit www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/w/ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-change-fund-2025-2026 for further clarification on grant information sessions, eligibility criteria, application guidance notes and the EVAWG campaign.