Ending violence against women and girls in Belfast

Ending violence against women and girls in Belfast

Women and girls should feel, and be, safe everywhere – and we’re working to do what we can to make that happen.

Ending all forms of violence, abuse and harm against women and girls is one of the most pressing challenges facing us today. It is also a priority in the NI Executive’s draft Programme for Government.

In Belfast, we’re supporting the NI Executive to roll out their Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (link opens in new window).

The strategy highlights how violence is never acceptable and that there is something everyone can do to help.

We want to show how Belfast is stepping up to this challenge and is working together to tackle an issue which impacts everyone in our city.

Our work includes:

• Local Change Fund
• Free training for community and voluntary groups
• Personal safety events
• Area events
• Belfast bystander conference 

Local Change Fund

This is a new grant scheme for community and voluntary groups to deliver projects, by 31 March 2026, to end violence against women and girls in Belfast.

Together, the projects will help to change the attitudes, behaviours and culture of violence against women and girls, promote healthy, respectful relationships and help women and girls to feel, and be, safe everywhere.

There are three tiers of funding available:

• Tier 1 – Maximum award £5,000 (groups must have a satisfactory understanding of the issue)
• Tier 2 – Minimum award £5,001. Maximum award £15,000 (groups must have a good understanding of the issue)
• Tier 3 – Minimum award £15,001. Maximum award £25,000 (groups must have a very good understanding of the issue and include mentoring or collaboration as part of their project)

Tier 1 grants are open from Friday 17 January to Friday 28 February. Tier 2 and Tier 3 grants were open from Friday 17 January to Monday 17 February.

Apply for Local Change Fund

Regional Change Fund

Eight organisations have also received funding from the Executive Office to deliver society-wide change when it comes to tackling violence against women and girls.

Nexus, Women’s Aid Federation NI (WAFNI), Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA), Relate NI, White Ribbon NI, Youth Action, NSPCC, and Barnardo’s NI will share in £1.2 million of funding to support their work.

We are supporting the administration of this fund.

Free training for community and voluntary groups

We are offering free training for Belfast-based community and voluntary organisations who want to better understand the issues around ending violence against women and girls and how they can support this work.

There are 180 places available between February and March 2025.

Training will take place at various locations across the city, depending on demand. It is free to attend. Each training course runs for three sessions and includes: 

• guidance on understanding domestic abuse and coercive control and the impact on individuals
• examining root causes of violence against women and girls
• types and cycles of abuse and the impact on the individual
• how to help prevent domestic abuse
• appropriate responses
• assessing risks and safety planning
• practical interactive exercises, case studies and women’s experiences

By the end of the course, participants will have a satisfactory understanding of this complex issue and feel more confident in responding to it.
To register or get more information, email [email protected].

Free training courses

Course dates and venues are shown in the table.

Personal safety events

Free personal safety events will take place in our community centres in February 2025.

These empowering sessions will provide practical self-defence skills and information to improve confidence and self-awareness. They have been organised following feedback from our centre users. 

Try-it events with local martial arts clubs are also planned, so women can continue on with their practice after these first events.

To book your place, email [email protected].

Area events

We are planning events across Belfast during March 2025, reflecting specific priorities in each part of the city.

These events will be co-designed with local organisations and include input from community groups, advice and women’s centres, working with our area teams and community centre staff.

If you’re interested in attending, or supporting this work on behalf of your organisation, email [email protected].

Belfast bystander conference

Following on from a regional conference in 2022, an event is planned for spring 2025, looking at how everyone has a role to play in tackling violence against women and girls.

Planning is underway for this event. It will look at specific projects being delivered in Belfast, lessons learned from the 2022 event and strategies to engage men and boys in helping to end violence against women and girls.

For more information, email [email protected].

Help and support

There are agencies and confidential services that can support you if you’re experiencing violence or feel unsafe. Contact details are available from nidirect (link opens in new window)

The PSNI, Department of Justice and NI Executive have launched the Power to Change campaign, which is urging men and boys to help play their part in affecting cultural and societal change.

To read more about this campaign, go to Power to Change (link opens in new window)