Bidding launches for £3.5m in Tampon Tax funding

Charities are being urged to bid for a share of £3.5 million in Tampon Tax Community Fund money announced today.

This is the latest round for funding aimed specifically at charities and community groups that work with women.

The application process prioritises grass roots organisations, charities that work with women who face multiple challenges and groups that have a strong focus on being user-led and sustainable.

Issues to be funded include those that help women and girls find employment, raising awareness of health issues or creating peer support networks.

Charities and groups can apply for grants of up £10,000, with the successful projects announced in early 2020.

The money is being distributed by UK Community Foundations (UKCF), which represents a UK wide network of 46 community foundations.

“Grassroots groups are doing amazing work to support women and girls across the country,” said UK Community Foundations director of programmes and development, Vicki Papworth.

“They often run on a shoestring budget and struggle to compete for the larger funding pots. We’re proud that Community Foundations have again been recognised by government for their local knowledge and will use this vital funding to support the groups on the ground making such a big difference to women’s lives.”

Tampon tax funding is raised through VAT generated from the sale of sanitary products.
This is the second round of funding distributed by UKCF, with the first recipients announced in March this year.

Among those to already receive funding are Rape Crisis England and Wales, which was handed £1.4m for a digital project to support victims. Meanwhile, the Women’s Aid Federation of England gained £1.5m in funding for a project to improve responses to domestic abuse.