Lockdown has had a huge financial impact on organisations supporting women and girls. The restrictions imposed across the country saw women and girls’ mental health deteriorate while incidents of domestic abuse soared. Yet, research by Agenda – the alliance for women and girls at risk – raises concerns that as demand continues to surge, these organisations face a funding shortfall in the months ahead, which has the potential to put thousands of women and girls at risk.

Our new report, Voices from Lockdown: A Chance for Change, surveyed more than 70 organisations working with women and girls to find out about some of the issues they faced during lockdown. The survey ran in June and involved speaking to specialist community organisations that are supporting some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised women. They are often facing multiple disadvantages, including long histories of trauma and abuse, which often lead to other disadvantages such as poor mental health, addiction, homelessness, involvement in “survival sex” and contact with the criminal justice system. We also conducted interviews with several organisations, as well as with women with lived experience.