Funding Opportunity: £26 Million Women's Diversion Fund CLOSING SOON

Voluntary and community organisations working with women in the criminal justice system now have the opportunity to apply for a share of £26 million through the Women's Diversion Fund, launched by the Ministry of Justice.

The programme will provide grant funding to voluntary and community sector organisations between January 2027 and March 2029, supporting projects that help divert women away from further involvement with the criminal justice system and reduce the number of women entering or returning to prison.

About the Fund

The Women's Diversion Fund has been developed to strengthen community-based support for women aged 18 and over who are at risk of further contact with the criminal justice system.

The programme recognises that many women experience multiple and complex challenges, including trauma, domestic abuse, mental ill-health, substance misuse, housing instability and financial hardship. By investing in early intervention and community-based support, the fund aims to help women address the underlying causes of offending and build more positive futures.

What Will the Fund Support?

The Ministry of Justice is seeking organisations that can deliver services which:

• Divert women away from further contact with the criminal justice system.
• Reduce the number of women entering or returning to prison.
• Provide trauma-informed support.
• Help women address the issues contributing to offending behaviour.
• Improve long-term outcomes through community-based interventions.

The fund is expected to support a broad range of approaches, recognising that no two women's experiences are the same and that personalised support is often key to achieving lasting change.

Who Should Consider Applying?

This opportunity is likely to be of particular interest to organisations working in areas such as:

• Women's support services
• Domestic abuse
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Housing and homelessness
• Substance misuse
• Family support
• Employment and skills
• Financial inclusion
• Criminal justice and rehabilitation
• Community outreach and early intervention

Partnership applications may also provide opportunities for organisations to combine their expertise and deliver holistic support.

Funding Timeline

Grant Programme: January 2027 – March 2029

Application Deadline: 24 July 2026

Funding Decisions: Expected in late September 2026

Organisations are encouraged to begin preparing their applications as early as possible.

Find Out More

Further information, eligibility criteria and the application process can be found on the Government's Find a Grant service:

Women's Diversionary Activity Grant (1 January 2027 – 31 March 2029)

To Apply:
The site address is: Ministry of Justice Sourcing Portal

For assistance with Jaggaer contact:esourcing@justice.gov.ukor 0845 0100 132.

This represents a significant investment in community-led support for women. If your organisation has the expertise to help women overcome the challenges that can lead to involvement in the criminal justice system, this funding could provide an opportunity to expand your impact and help create lasting change.