Spring Impact opens recruitment for Scale Accelerator: Preventing Childhood Sexual Violence, a programme to be delivered in the EU and UK offering fully subsidised scaling consultancy support for NGOs working to reduce the number of children across the EU and UK that experience sexual abuse and exploitation each year.
Childhood sexual violence is preventable, yet it affects 1 in 5 children across Europe each year. Ending both online and offline childhood sexual violence is vital for ensuring the safety, well-being, and dignity of every child. It is not only a matter of justice but a collective responsibility to provide children with a childhood free from harm. Many mission-driven organisations are delivering effective solutions to tackle this problem across the EU and the UK. Spring Impact are committed to working with them to build a society where children are free from abuse in both physical and digital spaces.
Made possible thanks to Oak Foundation, this edition of the Scale Accelerator programme will support organisations with proven solutions for preventing childhood sexual violence to scale up, reach more people, and drive change at a systemic level.
The programme will guide the participants through the various stages of their journey to scale, with support tailored to each organisation’s needs. NGOs will be selected for one of two fully-funded programme routes:
Expert Consultancy: up to 3 years of fully-funded, tailored consultancy for a select group of NGOs with a proven solution with high potential for success at scale. Our scaling consultants will provide bespoke technical assistance to help figure out how to achieve long-term, sustainable and widespread impact – whether by collaborating with governmental or national bodies, partnering with other impactful organisations, or using a different approach suitable to their needs.
Leaders of Scale Training: an online 6-month intensive training programme for a cohort of like-minded NGOs, coaching two members of their leadership team in the skills, knowledge, and frameworks needed to lead the organisation’s journey to scale. Using a ‘Train the Trainer’ approach, the programme will put organisation leaders in the driving seat and enable them to learn alongside other social leaders.
As part of the application process, eligible organisations will be granted a free place on Spring Impact’s 5 week Getting Scale Ready online course, which provides an excellent opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed to develop their foundational strategies for scale and build a robust application for the Scale Accelerator: Preventing Childhood Sexual Violence programme in the process.
Scale Accelerator, Spring Impact’s flagship programme, has been delivered to date in the UK and across countries in Southern Africa, including Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Since 2015, over 60 ambitious NGOs at the frontline of addressing critical societal issues have participated. As a result, many have increased their reach and impact, expanded their solution to several locations, and gained funding for their next growth phase.
The programme is based on Spring Impact’s unique scaling methodology and consultancy approach, which has supported over 300 organisations worldwide to scale the impact and reach of their work sustainably.
Commenting on the launch of the programme, Spring Impact’s Programme Director, Hannah Barker, said:
“There are incredible NGOs across the EU and UK which tirelessly to prevent children from experiencing any form of sexual violence. Imagine how many more childhoods they could change for the better if only they were able to deliver their vital work sustainably at scale.
By providing fully-funded consultancy support, Scale Accelerator: Preventing Childhood Sexual Violence aims to empower these ambitious organisations and their leaders to unleash the full potential of their solutions, expanding their reach and influence. Together, we strive for a future where every child is safe and protected from harm.”
Dr. Helena Duch, Head of Evidence and Solutions at Oak Foundation said:
“Child sexual abuse is preventable. This fact drives and inspires our mission to end child sexual abuse online and offline. We are excited to support this programme and help effective solutions bring about change at a much larger scale, strengthening the movement to end childhood sexual violence, and ensure children can lead safe, happy childhoods.”
Mission-driven organisations with solutions proven and evaluated as successful in the EU and UK are now invited to apply. The deadline for the first step in the application process closes at 11:59 GMT on Monday 25 September. Visit Spring Impact’s website for more information.
