Open early engagement This means that the design of this grant is currently active, it is in the early stages of development and is seeking feedback on the design.

It is also judging interest from potential applicants.

Please note that providing feedback as part of this early engagement exercise does not constitute a formal application for this grant.

In addition, this early engagement notice does not guarantee that the competition will go ahead.

The current grant for the delivery of the National Witness Service is due to end on 31st March 2026.

The MoJ are designing a new grant to allow continuation of the service once the current grant funding period concludes.

The MoJ is seeking early engagement with interested applicants; the purpose of this engagement is to seek feedback on the current design, and to assess the level of interest the grant will attract from potential applicants.

The MoJ wishes to flag that both individual applications as well as applications through consortia (two or more organisations coming together to apply for this grant) are welcomed.

The MoJ therefore invites interested organisations to complete a short questionnaire.

This questionnaire will cover some elements of the design of the grant, including potential grant period duration, and seek feedback on potential barriers organisations may have to applying so that these can be factored in to grant design.

Some key information about the current activities undertaken is set out below. - The Witness Service (WS) has been operating in all criminal courts since 2003.

It has been delivered in its current form by Citizens Advice since 2015. - The WS provides independent emotional and practical support to both prosecution and defence witnesses involved in criminal cases, to enable them to give their best evidence.

This can be in the court room, at a remote link site or other court approved locations. - The current WS has approximately 1500 volunteers, and 240 paid staff (FTE approx.

200).

Approx.

80,000 individuals were supported during 2023/24.

These people may have been supported more than once. - The current delivery of the WS offers different levels of support depending on witnesses' needs.

Support is available to all prosecution and defence witnesses as well as bereaved family members (irrespective of whether they are giving evidence) and to friends and family of a witness when their presence is material to the ability of the witness to present evidence.

Further information and how to provide feedback can be found in the additional attachments.

Deadline for Response is 7th June 2024.