Apply for Domestic Abuse – Counselling Fund (United Kingdom)

The Henry Smith Foundation is offering the Domestic Abuse: Counselling Fund to support specialist domestic abuse organisations providing long-term counselling for survivors. The fund will provide five-year grants (total £250,000, £50,000 per year) and includes five ring-fenced grants for organisations supporting children and/or young people. The Expression of Interest (EOI) deadline is 21 October 2026 at 5pm. Many people who have experienced domestic abuse need access to longer-term counselling to recover from trauma, rebuild confidence and wellbeing, and move forward. The Henry Smith Foundation notes that specialist domestic abuse organisations often struggle to secure funding for counselling that is available for as long as people need it. Through this fund, the foundation aims to sustain access to specialist domestic abuse counselling by supporting organisations with the experience and understanding needed to deliver counselling that helps victim-survivors recover and rebuild their lives. This fund is part of the Henry Smith Foundation’s Safer Futures Programme, which backs organisations supporting people to rebuild their lives after abuse, displacement, or prison. The fund is open to eligible charitable organisations registered in and working in the UK, including:

Additional eligibility requirement:

The source also indicates applicants must complete a short eligibility quiz before applying. The fund is looking to support specialist domestic abuse organisations with at least three years’ experience delivering counselling to victim-survivors of domestic abuse.

Counselling services should be:

The foundation will also ring-fence 5 grants for organisations providing counselling support to children and/or young people. Specialist domestic abuse counselling often requires longer-term therapeutic support to address trauma and help survivors rebuild their lives. This fund is designed to help organisations continue providing counselling for as long as people need it, particularly where specialist domestic abuse organisations face challenges securing sustained funding for counselling provision. The source states that eligible organisations will be able to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). The foundation will contact applicants during the week of 23 November 2026 to tell them whether they should submit a full application. If not invited, applicants will be told why in writing. The foundation notes it reviews hundreds of EOIs and cannot provide detailed feedback. Phone conversations will take place in January–February 2027. The foundation states it will make 15 grants following the full application stage and will let applicants know in early 2027.

Official application and guidance:

What is the Domestic Abuse: Counselling Fund?

It is a Henry Smith Foundation grant programme providing five-year grants to support specialist domestic abuse organisations delivering long-term counselling for survivors. How much funding is available? The fund provides £250,000 total, which is £50,000 per year, over five years. What is the deadline to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)? The EOI deadline is Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 5pm. Who can apply? Eligible applicants are charitable organisations registered in and working in the UK, including registered charities, CIOs, and certain not-for-profit CICs with an asset lock, as well as other not-for-profit charitable organisations aligned with the strategy. What are the counselling requirements? Counselling should be person-centred, longer-term (minimum 12 sessions), holistic, and trauma-informed. Is there a focus on children and young people? Yes. The foundation will ring-fence 5 grants for organisations providing this support to children and/or young people. When will applicants know if they are invited to apply for the full stage? The foundation will contact applicants during the week of 23 November 2026. Review the official Domestic Abuse: Counselling Fund funding guidelines and use the online eligibility checker to confirm your organisation meets the stated requirements before submitting your Expression of Interest by 21 October 2026 at 5pm. If invited, follow the full application instructions and deadlines set out by the Henry Smith Foundation.