# Comic Relief launches £2 million domestic abuse and violence tech fund

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/06/23/comic-relief-launches-2m-domestic-abuse-violence-tech-fund/
- Published: 2021-06-23T08:56:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Comic Relief and the Ministry of Justice have launched a new £2 million digital
capability fund for organisations in England and Wales that support survivors and
victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. **

The fund is for projects led by and who work with communities facing racial inequality,
disabled people, or LGBTQ+ people. It will offer up to 25 grants, alongside digital
coaching, to smaller, specialist organisations and  aims to help improve their services
and capacity through funding digital costs, and enhance their future sustainability.

The fund is now [open for applications](https://www.comicrelief.com/funding/funding-opportunities/ministry-justice-specialist-fund/)
and will close at midday on 19 July.

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The programme is part of a £40 million funding boost announced by the Ministry of
Justice earlier this year, for specialist support services to help survivors of 
rape and domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Research by Comic Relief in 2019 also revealed the key challenges identified by 
practitioners working in the domestic abuse sector for developing their digital 
services, which included accessing flexible funding; knowing what it should cost;
collaborating with other organisations in the sector; and embedding tech skills 
in the organisation.

Aleema Shivji, Comic Relief’s Executive Director of Impact and Investment, said:

> “It’s fantastic that, together with the Ministry of Justice, we are going to be
> able to support the digital development of organisations that are providing hugely
> important services to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
>  
> “Not only that, by offering practical support and advice at every stage of the
> process, they will also be able to work out exactly where digital can really make
> a difference for both service users and staff.”

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 * **[Help Raise A Money Mountain for Comic Relief with BT](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/02/10/help-raise-money-mountain-comic-relief-bt/)**(
   10 February 2009)
 * **[Convention to hear about Red Nose success](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/06/22/convention-hear-about-red-nose-success/)**(
   22 June 2009)