ADD2797 DASA programme – Delivery of commissioned services and grants 2026-27

1.1.    Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (the 2021 Act) came into force on 1 October 2021. It confers a statutory duty on Tier 1 authorities (in London, this is the GLA) to support survivors of domestic abuse, and their children, in safe accommodation. The Domestic Abuse Support (Local Authority Strategies and Annual Reports) Regulations 2021 (the 2021 Regulations) also came into force on 1 October 2021. The key functions required of Tier 1 authorities – as outlined in the 2021 Act, the 2021 Regulations and statutory guidance – include preparing, publishing and keeping under review a strategy for accommodation-based support for survivors of domestic abuse, and their children. The 2021 Act also requires Tier 1 authorities to deliver the strategy through commissioning and decommissioning decisions.

1.2.    The following Mayoral Decisions (MDs) are relevant to this work: 

•    MD2788 and MD2842 gave Mayoral approval to receive from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and spend, £20.688m of funding (to cover administration and support) for 2021-22
•    MD2967 gave Mayoral approval to receive from MHCLG, and spend, £20,745,496 of funding for 2022-23 
•    MD3082 gave Mayoral approval to receive from MHCLG, and spend, £21,160,496 for 2023-24; and £21,559,735 for 2024-25
•    MD3321 gave approval to receive from MHCLG, and spend, £26,868,976 for 2025-26. 

1.3.    The Mayor also approved, via these MDs, the GLA entering into a shared-services arrangement with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). Through this arrangement, MOPAC supports the GLA to undertake the activities associated with the new duty.

1.4.    In August 2025, MD3386 appointed the Assistant Director, Housing Programmes and Partnerships, the senior responsible owner for the Accommodation and Wider Support for Those Who Need it Most (AWS) delivery plan. As per paragraph 1.3 of MD3386, the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation (DASA) programme falls within the AWS. That decision also delegated authority to the Assistant Director, Housing Programmes and Partnerships (in consultation with the Executive Director for Housing and Land, the Executive Director for Communities and Skills, and the Mayoral Delivery Board), to approve the receipt of additional funding from central government to expand or extend certain existing schemes contained in the delivery plan, including through DASA, where the parameters of the scheme remain the same or similar, after consulting with legal advisers and the GLA’s Chief Finance Officer, and subsequently securing agreement from the Mayoral Delivery Board.

1.5.    For the purposes of considering whether the parameters are similar as originally agreed with government, the Assistant Director of Housing and Land should have regard to whether the outcomes to be delivered have changed significantly; or if there is a significant change to the attendant risks of the original programme. The objectives of DASA funding remain the same as when approval for receipt of it was provided via the decisions outlined in paragraph 1.2, above. On this basis, it is considered that the parameters of the programme remain the same or similar. The GLA’s legal advisers, and the Chief Finance Officer, have been consulted regarding the proposed additional funding; and the Mayoral Delivery Board’s agreement has been secured in respect of the same. The Assistant Director, Housing Programmes and Partnerships, has therefore delegated authority under MD3386 to make the decisions sought in this decision form. At the time of writing, the MHCLG settlement for 2026-27 has not yet been announced; but the GLA understands that this is due to be confirmed imminently. 

1.6.    This Assistant Director Decision (ADD) is being requested in advance of the confirmed 2026-27 settlement for London from MHCLG. Delaying a decision presents a high risk to the Mayor’s DASA programme delivery, and associated commissioned support services. The GLA will caveat offer letters to providers by making it clear that any extension of funding for 2026-27 is subject to a funding allocation from MHCLG being confirmed. Additionally, if the GLA received a lower settlement from MHCLG than expected, we will consider accessing our DASA reserve funds to support some of these contracts. 

The Led ‘By and For’ grants fund

1.7    The Led ’By and For’ grants fund was launched in June 2025, as the first phase of new commissioning under the DASA programme. The fund provides organisations with access to multi-year funding for three years, subject to future MHCLG funding being allocated to the GLA. 

1.8    Applications for the fund were restricted to specialist led ‘by and for’ services. This aimed to ensure that that the most marginalised victims/survivors of domestic abuse can access culturally competent, high-quality support that recognises the wider structural barriers many face in accessing safety and justice. 

1.9    The fund opened in June 2025; applications closed in mid-August 2025. The fund was over-subscribed, with 29 eligible individual applications and four eligible partnership applications going through to the assessment stage. 

1.10    On 23 October 2025, the Domestic Abuse Duty Internal Governance Group (DADIGG), chaired by the Executive Director of Housing and Land, approved the final allocations under the grants programme. Funding was awarded to 17 organisations; allocations totalled £18,371,685 over three years, pending MHCLG funding.

1.11    Organisations receiving a grant will begin their service delivery from 1 April 2026, subject to contracting. The table below breaks down the allocations across the three years:

1.12    Approval is sought to spend up to £5,957,933 to fund the first year of the grants programme (2026-27). The GLA will fund these grants from its expected allocation for 2026-27 from MHCLG.

The Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation framework 

1.13    The commissioning approach for DASA was approved via MD2892. This involved establishing the DASA framework agreement, dated 20 December 2021. Following this, MOPAC and the GLA jointly procured 49 call-off contracts (under the DASA framework agreement) to support survivors of domestic abuse, and their children, in refuges and other safe accommodation. 

1.14    The DASA framework agreement consists of 67 providers delivering over 80 services, split as follows: 

•    Lot 1 delivers safe accommodation direct support services (excluding ‘by and for’ providers, but including local authorities). 
•    Lot 2 delivers safe accommodation direct-support services delivered by specialist ‘by and for’ providers; and includes a single direct award for the Outside Project to deliver the UK’s first refuge for trans victims/survivors.
•    Lot 3 is for systems and infrastructure-related services that do not provide a direct support service to victims/survivors. 

1.15    The DASA framework agreement includes the option for the GLA to extend the call-off contracts “for a further period or periods up to a total of two years (ending no later than 31 March 2027)”.

1.16    An extension for all call-off contracts under the DASA framework, from 31 March 2025 to 31 March 2026, and the associated spend of £15,882,353, was approved via MD3321. This MD also noted that, subject to funding allocation from MHCLG for 2026-27, Lots 1 and 3 contracts may be extended for a further year. 

1.17    In June 2025, the first phase of new commissioning under the DASA strategy was launched. The DASA led ‘by and for’ grants fund is designed for services led ‘by and for’ – in other words, those providing dedicated support for a particular group of victims/survivors. This programme provided a new funding opportunity for the Lot 2 providers, whose call-off contracts would therefore be extended, if they happened to be successful in their application to the DASA led ‘by and for’ grants fund.

1.18    There are eight providers, currently funded under Lot 2 of the DASA framework, who were either unsuccessful in the grants programme (six providers) or did not apply (two providers). A decision was approved in writing, following the DADIGG meeting on 23 October 2025, to extend the Lot 2 contracts for these eight providers, to support their service delivery up until 31 March 2027. 

1.19    As part of a further extension for the eight Lot 2 contracts, their contract end date will align with the timescales for new commissioning opportunities to be made available under the DASA programme. New commissioning will be available from March 2027. The extensions ensure that there is no short-term loss in provision between the end of Lot 2 contracts, for those not receiving funding through the grants programme. 

1.20    Approval is sought to extend all the DASA Lot 1 and Lot 3 call-offs, and eight of the Lot 2 contracts, until 31 March 2027. This is in accordance with the provisions of the existing DASA framework. Decisions regarding these extensions will be made in line with the DASA Contract and Grant Management Framework, which outlines how MOPAC manages services commissioned under its statutory duty. Recommendations for extensions will be informed by quarter 1 and quarter 2 performance monitoring data; and additional insight from MOPAC’s DASA Contracts Performance team. These extensions will ensure continuity of service delivery throughout 2026-27; and enable the development of a new commissioning approach.  The table below breaks down the cost figures: 

1.21    Approval is sought for spend up to the above amounts. MOPAC will operate within the funding envelope budget. Offer values may vary slightly, following the contract drafting stage.

1.22    The GLA will fund the contract extensions from its expected allocation for 2026-27 from MHCLG. 

DASA continuation grants

1.23    The Mayor also funds 31 continuation grants under the DASA programme; these are separate from the commissioning framework. They are legacy grants, which were transferred to the GLA from MHCLG when the Domestic Abuse Part 4 Duty came to the GLA in 2021. When the grant fund was launched by MHCLG, applicants went through a competitive application process to obtain funding. The grants constitute a mixture of projects, including direct victims’ services; advocacy; refuge accommodation; and housing-related support to access accommodation and longer-term housing. The GLA has continued to fund these projects to support stability in the sector. 

1.24    From April 2022 to date, the continuation grants have been extended annually, at a total value of £23,001,300. This includes an inflationary uplift of 3.2 per cent in 2025-26, to reflect changing service demands and costs, as approved via MD3321. 

1.25    Approval is now sought to extend all continuation grants for one further and final year, for 2026-27. This will ensure there is no gap in provision while the new commissioning framework is launched. This will cost up to £6,476,041.

1.26    As with the call-off extensions, approval is sought for spend up to £6,476,041. MOPAC will operate within the funding envelope; values offered may vary slightly following the contract drafting stage. This may include reductions in value, depending on amendments to budget lines and operational delivery restrictions. 

1.27    The GLA will fund the contract extensions from its expected DASA funding allocation for 2026-27 from MHCLG.
 

2.1    All procurements will implement policies and proposals in line with the objectives in London’s DASA Strategy (2025-28), which are to ensure: 

•    a clear and coordinated network of support in safe accommodation for all victims/survivors
•    accessible and inclusive services that meet the diverse needs of all victims/survivors
•    services and accommodation are physically and psychologically safe, and of high quality; and use up-to-date and appropriate practice
•    a DASA system (made up of various organisations from the violence against women and girls (VAWG) sector, and the housing sector; and local authorities) that works across specialties and geographies, and is centred on victim/survivor outcomes
•    a sustainable and robust sector, funded to best meet the needs of victims and survivors. 
 

3.1    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as public authorities, the Mayor and the GLA are subject to a public-sector equality duty and must have due regard to the need to: 

•    eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation 
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not 
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not. 

3.2    Protected characteristics under section 149 of the Equality Act are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage or civil partnership status. 

3.3    Characteristics of victim/survivors of domestic abuse (national figures) are as follows: 

•    Gender: women are much more likely than men to be the victims of high-risk or severe domestic abuse. Three-quarters of domestic abuse homicide victims in London between 2005 and 2020 were women. 
•    Age: younger people are more likely to be subject to interpersonal violence. Most at high-risk victims are in their 20s or 30s. Those under 25 are the most likely to suffer interpersonal violence. 
•    Pregnancy: nearly one in three people who suffer from domestic abuse during their lifetime report that the first incidence of violence happened while they were pregnant. 
•    Disability: Deaf or disabled people are more than twice as likely to experience some form of domestic abuse (11.8 per cent) than non-disabled survivors (4.6 per cent). Amongst women, this figure is higher, with 14.7 per cent of victims of domestic abuse being deaf or disabled. 
•    Separation: domestic abuse is highest amongst those who have separated, followed by those who are divorced or single. 
•    Drug and alcohol use: victims of abuse have a higher rate of drug and/or alcohol misuse (whether it starts before or after the abuse); at least 20 per cent of at high-risk victims of abuse report using drugs and/or alcohol. 
•    Mental health: 40 per cent of at high-risk victims of abuse report mental health difficulties. 

3.4    Given the above, the proposal in this decision form, which seeks to extend and secure service provision, is likely to have positive impacts on several groups with protected characteristics – particularly women, and victims/survivors from marginalised and minoritised groups, who are disproportionately impacted by domestic abuse. Specifically, the activities will ensure victim/survivors of domestic abuse have access to various pathways of support. 
 

Key risks and issues 

4.1    The table below outlines the risks and issues:

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities

4.2     The objectives of the proposals are in line with:

•    the AWS delivery plan
•    the Mayor’s DASA Strategy 2025-28 
•    the Mayor’s London Housing Strategy, policy 7.2c 
•    MOPAC’s Police and Crime Plan 2022-25 (tackling VAWG is one of three priority areas for action to protect people at especially high risk of crime) 
•    MOPAC’s VAWG Strategy. 

Consultations and impact assessments

4.3    Both the London Housing Strategy and the VAWG Strategy were subject to public consultation and equalities impact assessments. 

4.4    The Mayor’s DASA Strategy (2025-28) involved extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. In March 2025 the draft strategy was published on the London.gov website. It was also sent to the London DASA Partnership Board, London boroughs and wider VAWG-sector stakeholders. The public consultation period ran to 10 December 2024.

4.5    During the consultation period, written consultation responses were received; and stakeholders were consulted at meetings and events. As MOPAC is providing professional support services to the GLA relating to the duties under the 2021 Act, it managed the consultation.

4.6    There was also in-depth consultation and engagement during the development of the London DASA Needs Assessment, which provides much of the data and information informing the proposals in the DASA strategy. This included a workshop with the Partnership Board; interviews with four survivors of domestic abuse; a provider survey; a VAWG coordinator survey; two focus groups with key stakeholders; and 13 one-to-one meetings with key stakeholders. 

4.7    MOPAC is convening a series of stakeholder workshops with boroughs and service providers on the commissioning approach and process.

 
4.8    An equalities impact assessment was also undertaken and published alongside the strategy. 

Conflicts of interest

4.9    The officers involved in the drafting and clearance of this form have not identified any known conflicts of interest.
 

5.1    Approval is sought from the Assistant Director, Housing Programmes and Partnerships, to further extend contracts in DASA Lots 1 and 3, and eight contracts from Lot 2, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The total spend across the Lot 1, 2 and 3 extensions will be £13,546,142.

5.2    Approval is also sought to deliver new and existing DASA grant funding in 2026-27. This covers approval to: 

•    extend the DASA continuation grants from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, and the associated spend of £6,476,041
•    spend up to £5,957,933 to grant fund 17 services under the DASA Led ‘By and For’ grants programme.

5.3    The above extensions, totalling £25,980,116, are proposed to be funded from MHCLG’s DASA 2026-27 grant funding to the GLA, which is yet to be confirmed. DASA funding and expenditure has been factored into the draft 2026-27 budget, which is to be approved and confirmed as part of the 2026-27 budget-setting process. This budget will be updated when MHCLG has confirmed that 2026-27 funding, and approval for its receipt and spend, have been granted. In the unlikely event that a settlement from MHCLG is not secured for 2026-27, there is £20.5m of DASA MHCLG unspent funding held in receipts in advance on the balance sheet; this would cover the cost of some of the extensions. The budget holder will need to review the contract extensions being approved via this ADD, to assess what can be funded from the grant in receipts in advance, should MHCLG 2026-27 funding be unavailable or insufficient. 

5.4    As per paragraph 1.5, the GLA should caveat all offer letters and contracts to providers, by making it clear that any extension of funding for 2026-27 is subject to a funding allocation from MHCLG being confirmed. Contracts should also contain break clauses, should the funding not be sufficient in 2026-27. 
 

6.1       The work will be carried out according to the following timetable: