Purpose

NESTAC are a specialist expert provider in relation to FGM. This includes delivering awareness raising across frontline professionals; delivering 1-1 support services; supporting youth initiatives and awareness raising in schools; and supporting families fleeing such practices.

Work is ongoing to develop more sustainable funding streams to ensure a proportionate and appropriate to FGM, and wider harmful practices such as honour-based abuse and forced marriage. This follows the publication of the research and scoping report into these practices commissioned by GMCA and published in 2025.

In the short term, there is a need to ensure that NESTAC are able to deliver to meet the current demand, as well as preparing for and engaging with the ongoing victims services review which will inform future commissioning.

Decision

£30,000 will be provided to NESTAC – New Steps for African Communities – to support the ongoing delivery of services to individuals who have experienced or are at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) for 2026/2027. This is an uplift to existing funding provided.