The minister for civil society is inviting charities and organisations that work with disadvantaged women and girls to apply for the latest £15m round of funding from the Tampon Tax.
Opening 2017/18 round of funding, the Rob Wilson said: “It’s great news that the Tampon Fax Fund is continuing for another year. I would like to encourage organisations who work to improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls, including those who have been affected by violence, to come forward and submit bids.
“We want this fund to support our vision of a society that works for everyone, working through the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector to tackle the particular issues faced by women and girls.
European Union rules mean that sanitary products are deemed luxury items and have to be taxed. But following a campaign, the then Chancellor George Osborne said the £15m a year raised through the tax would be given to women's charities. Before the decision to leave the EU it was later announced that an agreement had been reached to abolish the tax, so funding is expected to end by April 2018.
Asked what the future of the fund is, a Treasury spokeswoman said: "The government committed to continuing the fund until EU rules allow a zero rate of VAT to be applied women’s sanitary products. A decision will be made on the future of the fund once this has been achieved."
Applications are now open, closing on Friday 27 January 2017. More infomation on how to apply can be found here.
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