The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have launched the Women’s Diversion Fund, offering grants to support early intervention and community-based services for women aged 18 and over who are at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system.
The fund has a total value of £26 million and will support delivery from January 2027 to March 2029. Awards will be made across 12 regional lots.
The grant is intended to help reduce the number of women entering or re-entering the criminal justice system and to divert women away from custody through early intervention and community support. It is also designed to address underlying factors linked to offending, including trauma, domestic abuse, mental ill-health, substance misuse, housing instability and unemployment. The approach is expected to support gender-specific and trauma-informed services, while contributing to wider government priorities such as reducing reoffending and improving community safety.
Applications are open to community and voluntary organisations, charities, social enterprises and consortia based in England and Wales. The scheme may be relevant to organisations working across 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 and community outreach and early intervention.
Grant funding is intended to meet the costs of delivering interventions and services.
For more information and how to apply, visit the website.


