The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has launched a new funding round under Objective 2 of its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention Programme, focusing on early responses to inappropriate and problematic attitudes and behaviours around gender norms and relationships.

The current round forms part of YEF’s wider three-year work on funding, evaluation and research into what works to prevent and respond to VAWG. Objective 2 is focused on secondary prevention, offering early, targeted support for children and young people who are beginning to show emerging concerns, before behaviours escalate to the point where statutory services such as children’s social care, policing or youth justice are required.

Applications are open to registered charities, companies, statutory bodies and Community Interest Companies delivering interventions in England. Projects must support children and young people aged 10 to 18, or up to 19 in SEND settings, and be delivered primarily through schools, colleges or other educational settings. Some activity can take place in community or partner venues where there is a strong link to a school or college.

A maximum funding cap has not been set for this round. Support can cover staff and non-staff delivery costs directly related to delivery and participation in the evaluation, including training, materials, travel, venues, supervision, translation and reasonable overheads. Interventions should run over multiple sessions and be developed enough for a feasibility study or pilot evaluation, with an emerging Theory of Change. Applicants must be willing to engage with an independent evaluator, and partnerships are welcomed.

A free webinar will be held on 23 July 2026 (13.30 to 15:00). A link to register is on the YEF website.

The deadline for applications is 2 September 2026 (09:00).