The Women’s Urgent Support Fund is supported by over £5.4 million of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. Through the Women’s Urgent Support Fund £5.43 million will be awarded in grants to c.100 small, local community organisations led by and serving women, enabling 20,000 women to access vital specialist support services over five years.
The Women’s Urgent Support Fund Round 2 is a continuation of Round 1 and will support organisations providing frontline services for women to manage the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
The core objectives of the fund are:
- Frontline organisations led by and/or supporting women can respond to an identified increase in demand, brought on by the cost-of-living crisis
- Frontline organisations can meet the basic priority needs of women at most risk of poverty, because of the cost-of-living crisis
- Frontline organisations led by and/or supporting women will be strengthened during the cost-of-living crisis
Who can apply?
Applications are welcomed from organisations who:
- Are delivering frontline services led by, for and/or serving women
- Are responding to identified need and demand as a result of the cost-of-living crisis
- Are based in England, especially those within our priority geographical areas
- Have a turnover of less than £1,000,000
Priority groups
The fund aims to support women most impacted by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis. As a result, the fund will be prioritising organisations and/or services supporting the following groups:
- Women experiencing racial inequality
- Disabled women
- Women with No Recourse to Public Funds
- Women that are the sole parent to children under 18 years
- LGBTQ+ communities experiencing financial insecurity.
The fund aims to commit at least 50% of grants to projects that support women experiencing racial inequality and/or disabled women.
Applications from eligible smaller organisations are encouraged that fall within the Fund criteria and Smallwood’s mission on gendered poverty and Smallwood will do what they can to support capacity building or non-financial needs as they emerge throughout the programme.
What will be funded?
The aim is to continue to protect essential services for women most impacted by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis that we know is disproportionately affecting women and the organisations supporting them.
Funds can pay for core and frontline staff salaries, running costs/overheads, services and goods, and other organisational costs that will help meet the aims of the fund.
How much can I apply for?
Funding in Round 2 is for grants between £15,000 and £60,000 to be phased over 3 years. There is no minimum application amount. Funds must be spent by November /December 2027.
How many grants will be made?
Round 2 will award £2.2 million to c.35 organisations. Funds will enable them to respond to the spike in demand for urgent and basic needs from women who are most at risk of poverty.
How to apply webinar: 13 June, 11am-12pm – register here
How to apply
Round 2 is a two-stage application process:
- Stage 1: Complete an online Expression of Interest Form
- Stage 2: Smallwood will invite c.100 organisations to submit a full application
Deadline: 21 June 2024, 5pm