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The Women and Girls Initiative Final Impact Report

The Women and Girls Initiative final impact report (PDF, 13.6 MB)

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Introduction

This report summarises the final impact of the Women and Girls Initiative (WGI), a multi‑year programme supporting women and girls facing:

  • violence

  • abuse

  • exploitation

  • multiple disadvantage

The evaluation aimed to understand what the programme achieved and how specialist, holistic and co‑produced approaches made a difference.

It’s intended for:

  • funders

  • policymakers

  • practitioners

  • women’s sector organisations

Findings

The evaluation found that holistic, specialist support significantly improved safety, wellbeing and stability for women and girls facing:

  • violence

  • abuse

  • exploitation

  • complex needs

It found that WGI funding strengthened organisations’ capacity, enhanced partnership working, and expanded specialist provision.

The evaluation showed that the programme had increased voice and influence for women and girls through co‑production, alongside greater access to:

  • trauma‑informed support

  • advocacy

  • counselling

  • peer‑led activities

  • refuge provision

It also found that the programme supported organisational resilience during challenging circumstances, helping services remain responsive, inclusive and rooted in lived experience.

The report goes on to highlight the value of long‑term investment in specialist women and girls services. It sets out some recommendations to support the sector, funders and commissioners.