Comic Relief and Youth Endowment Fund to launch £10m violence prevention grant scheme

Charities will be invited to bid next month for a £10m funding programme to back family support programmes that can prevent youth violence.

The Youth Endowment Fund and Comic Relief are launching the programme following a four-month consultation with more than 450 people, including community and youth workers.

The funding, called A supportive home – helping families to overcome challenges will back parenting programmes, including those for foster carers, to help children develop positive behaviours.

Family therapy schemes, initiatives to reduce conflict between parents and children as well as domestic abuse prevention programmes will also be backed.

Applications for the funding for programmes in England and Wales will open on 27 September.

Today we've published the scope for our next grant round in partnership with @comicrelief. We'll be investing up to £10m in family support programmes to learn more about how they can help prevent children becoming involved in violence.

Find out more: https://t.co/zOX5G8Sfdt pic.twitter.com/b93hV5iiwc
— Youth Endowment Fund (@YouthEndowFund) August 10, 2021

“Early intervention with families who need support can have a dramatic effect on the lives of young people,” said Comic Relief chief executive Samir Patel.

“We’re really excited that this programme has been co-designed with young people, they have used their experiences and knowledge and identified the services they would like to see delivered, alongside advice from expert key workers.

“Everyone deserves the best start in life and I hope these new programmes and outreach services will help transform the lives of thousands of people.”

Youth Endowment Fund executive director Jon Yates added: “This investment with our partners at Comic Relief gives us a unique opportunity to learn how we can best help families of all different types.

“Then we can use that learning to make sure children who have often experienced adversity very early in their lives are given the services and support they need to keep safe from involvement in violence.”