Throughout its 2021 VAWG Strategy, the Home Office did not make the most of the available expertise and knowledge, for example by engaging with the voluntary sector to understand the demands being faced on the frontline.17 Evidence submitted by End Violence Against Women (EVAW) expressed the importance of departments consulting sector experts to ensure that their knowledge and understanding is being used to inform the Government’s approach, and that there is clarity and transparency around this engagement. EVAW told us that the expertise of specialist VAWG sector should be embedded in the development and review of the new VAWG strategy.18 Charity representatives told the NAO that it was not clear how Home Office’s engagement with them had been used to inform government’s approach, throughout the 2021 VAWG Strategy, and felt that the invitee list to meetings was very long, limiting the scope for discussions about issues which disproportionately impact survivors from marginalised groups.19 13 VAWG0076 14 Q 23 15 Q 23 16 Q 24 17 C&AG’s Report, para 13 18 VAWG0083 19 C&AG’s Report, para 2.18 12