[WiLT] Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Young People - Comic Relief - 24th July 2009

[WiL Admin]

Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Young People

1. Background Young people are at risk of sexual exploitation. 75% of women
working in prostitution started before they were 18; the majority want to get
out.

Trafficking is a growing problem, with the UK recognised as a significant
transit and destination country for trafficked children and young adults, and
the internet continues to be used as a means of sexually exploiting young
people.

Those trafficked for other reasons such as for domestic servitude, benefit fraud
or growing cannabis are at also at high risk of sexual exploitation.

This exploitation has very harmful effects; trafficking and sexual exploitation
puts young people at risk and damages the wellbeing of those affected, often
pushing vulnerable young people further into poverty.

Comic Relief has been funding work in this area for several years. Despite a
welcome increase in the attention given to this issue by statutory and voluntary
services, there is still a lack of accurate information, young people's
circumstances often go unrecognised by professionals and services on the ground
remain patchy. For this reason, we continue to fund in this area.

2. Aim of the Programme This programme aims to reduce harm to young people who
have been sexually exploited or trafficked.

We will fund work which addresses the above aim and one or more of the outcomes
below. We are especially keen to help young people find routes out of
prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, but we know for some this is
difficult and will take time. We will therefore fund work which meets both
immediate and longer term needs.

We recognise that this remains a growing field of work, so if you have an
innovative project that you feel addresses the overall aim rather than one of
the outcomes below, please contact us for discussion as we may be interested in
supporting your work.

3. Outcomes The organisations we fund will need to show how their work will help
deliver one or more of the following outcomes:
* Fewer young people will be sexually exploited or trafficked
* More sexually exploited and/or trafficked young people and those at risk will
know their rights, understand their situation and/or have access to the help and
support they need
* More sexually exploited and/or trafficked young people will have increased
choice to make positive decisions about their futures

4. Who will we fund? We welcome applications from a range of organisations
supporting young people aged 11-25 - some set up specifically to support
sexually exploited young people and those at risk; others with a wider young
people's brief who want to target this group. We will also support other
organisations working around sexual exploitation or trafficking who want to
address young people's needs; or projects in other fields whose work includes
these young people at risk, such as housing.

We recognise we need to be flexible around the age range of people supported.
Some young people, for example, young men and some trafficked young people, may
not come to the attention of professionals or realise their situation themselves
until they are 'older'. Therefore, although we expect that most of the services
we fund will be aimed at younger people we will consider supporting projects
working with those over the age of 25 where the case for need is made.

Apply for a UK Grant

What we look for in applications We have developed a set of grant making
principles to help guide our decision making. When we come to consider your
application, in detail, we will look at the extent to which you work within
these principles, and so we recommend you download and read these before you
complete an application.

Decision-making timetable The deadlines for the first three grant making cycles
are:

Cycle 1 - 24 July 2009
Cycle 2 - 13 November 2009
Cycle 3 - 5 March 2010

We are usually able to let you know the outcome of your application within four
months of the cycle deadline to which you applied.

The deadlines for subsequent cycles will be posted on our website in the
beginning of 2010.

Monitoring and evaluation Our involvement doesn't end with awarding a grant. We
need regular reports on your work and will want to see evidence that you are
monitoring and evaluating your progress. From the start of your grant, we will
help you set clear targets on how to deliver against your outcomes, and you will
need to send us regular progress reports. We may also visit you during the life
of your grant and may ask you to work with our media and communication teams to
help us show the impact of our funding to other organisations, funders and the
public.

Download
* the Grant Making Principles
* an application form
from http://www.comicrelief.com/apply_for_a_grant/uk/how_to_apply

Further InformationPlease contact us if you have any other queries about the
application process:

UK Grants Team
Comic Relief
5th Floor
89 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7TP

Phone: 020 7820 5555
E-mail: ukgrants at comicrelief.com