Government Seeks Views on National Support Line for Victims of Sexual Violence Grant

Government Seeks Views on National Support Line for Victims of Sexual Violence Grant

The Ministry of Justice are planning to commission a national support line to support victims of sexual violence in England and Wales, which will commence on 1 April 2026. This will follow the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line grant, which will expire on 31 March 2026.

The Ministry is inviting public sector and non-profit organisations in England and Wales to submit an Expression of Interest during the month of February to inform the future design and development of the grant scheme which is expected to launch in summer 2025.

The aim of the national support line is to:

• Provide 24/7, trauma-informed support to victims of sexual violence and abuse, regardless of whether they wish to report the crime to the police.
• Support victims of sexual violence and abuse in England and Wales to cope and, as far as possible, recover from the effects of sexual violence and abuse.

The grant will be awarded through an open competition. The grant value is yet to be confirmed but is expected to be in the region of the current 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line grant, which is £2.7 million per annum.

Expressions of Interest will be accepted from public sector and non-profit organisations. Consortia bids (including private sector members) are also eligible as long as the overall grant recipient is a public sector or non-profit organisation.

All respondents will be invited to Market Engagement events closer to the grant competition launch date this summer.

Expressions of Interest are accepted from 5 February to 28 February 2025 (midday).

Further details can be found here: National Support Line for Victims of Sexual Violence – GOV-UK Find a grant