SafeLives, Rape Crisis Scotland and Comic Relief are among the charities that have been awarded grants from the latest round of the Tampon Tax Fund.
Twelve charities in all will share £15m in funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which distributes funds generated from VAT on women’s sanitary products.
Under European Union rules, VAT on sanitary products cannot fall below 5%. The Treasury says that this tax will not be levied after January 2021, when the Brexit transition period ends.
This round opened to applications in March. The deadline for charities to apply for funding was extended to 7 June this year in response to the coronavirus crisis.
DCMS declined to say how many applications they received for the fund this year. Applicants had expected to find out if their bids were successful this summer. All activities must be concluded and funds spent by 30 June 2022.
Funding domestic abuse services
The domestic abuse charity SafeLives has received nearly £1.5m towards a project to make sure thousands of young women have knowledge and confidence to protect themselves and their friends from coming to harm.
Suzanne Jacob, the chief executive of SafeLives, said: “Young women who are worried about their relationships turn to their friends and online, not to traditional services.
“Your Best Friend is a future-facing project from a creative partnership of charities and digital experts.
“Working hand in hand, we’ll empower girls and young women to place the advice and reassurance they urgently need where young women already are, keeping them and their friends safe.”
Expanding Rape Crisis services
Rape Crisis Scotland has received just over £1m to help build the capacity of Rape Crisis services all over the country, with a focus on people who would normally find it difficult to access their services.
Sandie Barton, the director of operations at Rape Crisis Scotland, said: “Seeking support after sexual violence is never an easy thing to do which is why it is so important that when someone is able to take that step, Rape Crisis Centres are resourced and able to be there at the point of need.”
Comic Relief will use £1.3m from the fund to make grants to organisations led by and for Black and ethnic minority women to address violence against women and girls.
Baroness Barran, the minister for civil society, said: “Vulnerable women and girls need our support more than ever in this difficult year, and these grants will help keep vital services going.
“From supporting victims of domestic abuse, to those suffering from mental health problems, this funding will help to directly tackle some of the most serious issues facing women and girls today.”
Successful charities
The other charities receiving funding are:
- Women in Prison
- Ovarian Cancer Action
- Solace Women’s Aid
- Rosa Fund
- The Medaille Trust
- Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse
- London Youth
- YMCA England and Wales
- Beat
A DCMS spokesperson said that tampon tax funding has released £77m in grants since 2015.
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