Tampon Tax Fund Hits 6.9m

Grassroots groups working in the West Midlands will get much-needed grants worth £167,530 to help support local women and girls facing a range of challenges!

19 projects will receive grants of between £5,000 – £10,000. This is the second time the Foundation has awarded groups money from the Tampon Tax Community Fund to help women and girls experiencing issues such as period poverty, domestic and sexual abuse and mental health.

Collectively as a network, UK Community Foundations is one of the UK’s largest grant-makers and was asked by government to distribute the largest share of the funding raised through the levy on sanitary products through its network of community foundations. A total of £6.9 million has been awarded nationally to grassroots groups in the two rounds of funding.

Tina Costello, Foundation Chief Executive, said:

“This funding supports the groups on the ground that are making a huge difference to the lives of women and girls. We know there is huge demand out there for these services and are proud to help small organisations working in our community to access vital public funding, which otherwise they may miss out on.”

Some of the projects being funded (include local examples):
Street Teams have received a grant of £9675 to employ a part time Recovery & Reintegration worker as they provide daily support to homeless sex workers and vulnerable young people.

Birmingham Crisis Centre have been awarded £7082 to provide extra support, equipment and resources to enhance their Freedom Project, providing security and comfort to women who have suffered trauma.

Coventry Haven Women’s Aid have received £8962 which will allow them to set up, and run, a closed survivor group for women who have been victims of abuse.

Community Foundations are local champions, connecting people and organisations that want to improve their communities. They invest in local people and organisations tackling some of the biggest issues facing communities today and supporting some of society’s most disadvantaged people. They provide help and advice to those who want to give at the heart of their communities, both now and in the long-term, by matching donors to important local causes.

Source: Heart of England Community Foundation