Foundations is inviting expressions of interest from By and For organisations who deliver domestic abuse workforce development programmes, and would like to strengthen their evaluation skills.

Minoritised children and families are disproportionately involved in children’s social care, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in programme evaluations and research. Survivors from minoritised ethnic backgrounds continue to face poorer access to effective support, while many professionals lack the skills, confidence, and cultural competence needed to respond safely and appropriately.

Our scoping exercise — involving Experts by Experience, sector leaders, policy specialists, a review of existing evidence, and a national mapping of domestic abuse workforce programmes — revealed substantial gaps in practitioners’ capacity to support children, young people, and families from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. These gaps risk reinforcing existing inequalities and highlight the urgent need for high‑quality, targeted workforce development.

By‑and‑For organisations are uniquely positioned to address these needs, yet their contributions are often overlooked. Structural barriers, including limited evaluation capacity and the visibilty of larger mainstream providers, mean their impact is under‑documented. As a result, robust evidence on what works for minoritised families affected by domestic abuse remains limited.

Foundations is committed to addressing this gap by supporting By and For Organisations to strengthen their evaluation practice, elevate their expertise, and drive more equitable, effective responses across the workforce.