Flexible Fund
Nearly three-quarters of women experiencing domestic abuse faced greater difficulties leaving due to the rising cost of living. In response, we partnered with the Home Office to launch the successful pilot of the Flexible Fund in May 2023, which supported survivors in fleeing tormenting and often life-threatening abuse, and helped rebuild their lives. We are pleased to announce that this fund will continue until February 2026.
From Tuesday 15th July 2025 until Thursday 26th February 2026, one-off payments will be distributed to eligible survivors of domestic abuse through referrals from a network of local frontline services in England and Wales, including organisations, helplines and caseworkers who have a specialist understanding of domestic abuse.
What is the Flexible fund?
The Flexible Fund consists of two separate streams designed to provide financial support at different stages of a survivor’s journey:
Flee Fund
Offers a one-time payment of up to £500 to survivors who lack the financial resources to leave abusive environments or remain safely in their home. These funds cover essential needs such as groceries, nappies, and clothing.
Future Fund
Provides a one-time payment of up to £2,500 to facilitate survivors’ transition to a more stable and independent future. For example, enabling them to put down a deposit for rental accommodation.
How to access this support
If you’re a survivor of domestic abuse (for the statutory definition of domestic abuse, please click here) and want to access the Home Office’s Flexible Fund, you must have an eligible organisation submit an application on your behalf, as survivors cannot apply directly.
Please follow the 3 steps outlined below:
Search for an organisation
Our directory can provide you with options of eligible services in or around your area that may be able to apply on your behalf, depending on your eligibility, the service’s capacity, and available funding.
Please search your location on our directory. Scroll down to our ‘Eligible Services’ section below to search your location.
It is important to note that not all services listed in the directory will have the capacity to refer to the fund.
Make contact
Once you’ve found the right service, click on the service name to view their details under ‘Referral procedure’.
Please contact the service to request a referral.
Survivor FAQs
Can I submit an application for myself?
No, survivors cannot apply to the fund on their own. You must have an eligible organisation submit an application on your behalf.
Can I apply to the Flee fund and Future fund at the same time?
No, as the funds are designed to support survivors at different stages of their journey. However, this iteration is open for a longer period and therefore it is possible that a survivor who required the Flee fund money at the start of the funding period, may be ready for the Future funding towards the end of the period.
I’m no longer in a refuge, does that affect my eligibility?
No, survivors who have moved on from a refuge or have never stayed in a refuge are eligible to access the fund.
I work full-time, am I still eligible to apply?
Yes, survivor who are in full-time employment can access the fund.
What happens after my application is submitted?
We aim to review and process applications within 5 working days. After this time, a confirmation email will be sent to the referrer who submitted the application on your behalf, informing them of the outcome.
Who do I contact to receive updates on the status of my application?
For updates on your application status or payment, please contact the service that applied on your behalf. We cannot share application details with anyone except the referring service.
How long does payment take after my application has been approved?
Your referring service will be able to confirm the expected payment timeline.
How likely is my application to be approved?
Approval depends on several factors, including whether you meet the eligibility criteria, if the referring service has the capacity to support your application, the availability of funding at the time, and whether you have received the fund before (as you cannot access the same stream more than once). Because the fund is limited and applications are assessed based on these criteria, there is no guarantee that your application will be successful.
Eligibility criteria
Please click the button below to view the full eligibility criteria for each fund.
Eligible Services
Only member organisations of Women’s Aid, Welsh Women’s Aid, Imkaan, organisations listed on Routes to Support and our specialist delivery partners are eligible to make referrals to the Flexible Fund. You can find a list of eligible services across in England and Wales, using our directory.
My service is eligible to make referrals
Please click here for to view the Frequently Asked Questions.
My service is not eligible to make referrals
If you’re service is not eligible, you may consider joining Routes to Support. Routes to Support is the UK directory for violence against women and girls services, containing information on local and national services as well as refuge vacancies. It integrates with the Women’s Aid Directory on our website. You can find a comprehensive information pack, including the access and inclusion criteria and how to make an application on our website.
If you believe your service meets the eligibility criteria for Routes to Support, we encourage you to apply.
For any further questions, please contact our Routes to Support team at routestosupport@womensaid.org.uk
