COVID-19 Domestic Abuse Services Fund

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside is able to award emergency charitable grants to organisations that deliver vital Domestic Abuse support services. This funding is from the COVID-19 Extraordinary Ministry of Justice Funding for Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Support Services.

The COVID-19 extraordinary funding is to meet the additional costs incurred and will incur 24 March to 31 October 2020 for registered charities or social enterprises whilst adapting their services during the pandemic, and to cope with demand increases resulting from it, during this time period. For example, funding may be used to:

• Address short term income disruption;
• Meet essential costs of sustaining current activities, such the purchasing of assets to support the move to remote and digital working, and additional staff to cover those unable to work for reasons related to the pandemic; and
• address increased demand.

Grants of up to £25,000 are available (the PCC grants panel may award higher amounts if they deem appropriate and dependant upon available budget).

Eligibility criteria:

• You must not be already commissioned for Domestic Abuse services by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside
  (separate funding is available for those already being commissioned)
• The grant must specifically relate to additional costs incurred as a result of COVID-19
• Funding must be spent in full by 31^st October 2020
• You must be a registered charity, community group or social enterprise
• You must only request support for services exclusively provided in Merseyside.

Closing date for applications: Friday 29^th May by 5pm

Important application information:

Organisations must not use this funding for the development of new projects or services not related to the COVID-19 response. You must submit supporting documents such as your governing document, latest annual accounts and relevant safeguarding policies (unless you have received (not just applied for) a grant from the Community Foundation within the last 12 months). These documents must be received by the closing date and we encourage applicants to submit them with their online application.

How to apply:

A simple online application must be submitted via the Community Foundation for Merseyside. In addition to the application form we will require the following documents and information:

• Completed COVID 19 Request spreadsheet (click this link)
• Copy of your Governing document
• Copy of your Safeguarding policy
• A list of your Trustees/Directors/Management Committee
• Latest annual accounts
• Recent bank statement

These documents can be attached to your online application or emailed to applications@cflm.email when you submit your online application form.