The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has unveiled an additional £9 million funding package aimed at strengthening support for victims and survivors of violence against women and girls (VAWG),

helping thousands rebuild their lives and regain independence.

The new funding includes £6 million for the third round of the Mayor’s VAWG Grassroots Fund, which supports community organisations delivering essential services such as legal advice, counselling, and advocacy for survivors. These services are particularly focused on women and girls from minority and underrepresented communities across London.

Since its launch, the Grassroots Fund has already supported 57 organisations and helped more than 56,800 women, girls, and families. The latest investment will expand that reach, allowing thousands more Londoners to access critical support through trusted local groups.

In addition, the Mayor announced a further £3 million dedicated to helping survivors achieve financial independence. The funding will be used to develop a specialist programme focused on skills development, training, and employment support. By removing barriers to work and improving career opportunities, the initiative aims to help survivors break free from economic dependence on abusive partners.

Financial abuse remains a significant barrier for many victims trying to leave harmful relationships. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has made the situation even more difficult, often leaving survivors trapped in debt or forced to remain with their abusers. City Hall believes financial independence is a key step toward long-term safety, confidence, and recovery.

The funding announcement comes ahead of International Women's Day, which will be marked on Sunday. To raise awareness, a message from the Mayor will appear on the giant screens at Outernet London near Tottenham Court Road, encouraging Londoners to champion, respect, and believe women.

The campaign also highlights growing concerns about online misogyny, with critics warning that social media platforms increasingly allow harmful content targeting women to spread widely through automated accounts and influential online personalities.

The new funding adds to more than £277 million already invested under Khan’s leadership to tackle violence against women and girls in the capital. The Mayor’s office says the money has helped keep specialist services running, reduce waiting lists, and expand access to support for victims.

City Hall also confirmed that a refreshed strategy to combat violence against women and girls across London will be launched later this spring.

Officials say the new measures are part of a broader effort to ensure survivors not only receive immediate support but also have the tools and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives safely and independently.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Supporting victims and survivors to rebuild their lives and protecting them from abuse is at the heart of my work to tackle violence against women and girls and keep all Londoners safe.

“That’s why today, I’ve set out an additional £9million to deliver more support for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.  Our work with women’s refuges across the capital has highlighted how too often victims and survivors are forced to return to abusive situations because of debt and financial dependence. A new specialised service I am funding will now help women and girls build skills and get jobs.

“A new round of my VAWG Grassroots Fund will also ensure survivors can access vital support including legal advice, counselling and other key services to help rebuild their lives. I'm determined to build on our collective efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, as we work to build a safer London for everyone.”

London’s Victims Commissioner, Andrea Simon, said: “Access to specialist support services is often a lifeline for victims of violence against women and girls. Key to tackling this epidemic of abuse is working together across society to ensure that survivors, especially those from more marginalised communities, have access to the support they need.

“I look forward to working with the Mayor, the Met, grassroot charities, and partners across London to ensure victims of VAWG related crimes are provided with the highest levels of service as they navigate some of the most difficult times in their lives.” 

Deputy Mayor of London for Policing & Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “As Deputy Mayor, I am determined to do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable and marginalised victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

“Our VAWG Grassroots Fund has already delivered life saving work to women and their families across London and I am delighted we can commit to a third round of support to help thousands more women in need.

“For some women, the cost of living, debt, economic independence, and a lack of confidence and skills, can force them to remain in extremely vulnerable situations. So I am particularly pleased we will now embark on a new programme to trial different approaches - such as employment training and educational opportunities - to help keep them safe from violence and abuse and support them to recover and rebuild their lives.”

Nahar Choudhury, Chief Executive of Solace Women’s Aid at Solace, said: “We know that fleeing an abusive partner can be the hardest thing a woman ever does. We also know that, in many cases, perpetrators use economic abuse to maintain control and limit a survivor’s ability to leave. If a survivor has to flee suddenly, it can mean leaving her job, house and access to bank accounts behind. 

“Through advocacy and one-to-one support, our frontline staff help women navigate systems such as employment services, debt advice and access to safe housing so they can rebuild their lives. 

“Solace also delivers holistic support such as counselling, legal advocacy and practical guidance that empowers survivors to regain control of their finances and move towards long-term independence.” 

A domestic abuse survivor, who was supported through the Mayor's VAWG Grassroots Fund to take a copywriting and marketing course said: "I couldn’t believe it, I was finally getting trained (and taken seriously) for something I actually love doing. Now I’ve got a paid part-time role in a marketing firm and I’ve launched my own boutique copywriting business”. Photo by U.S. Embassy London, Wikimedia commons.