Major Funding Boost from Tampon Tax Community Fund for Projects Working With Some of Society’s Most Vulnerable Women and Girls.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) has awarded grants worth £96,421 to support twelve local projects in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The charities and community groups have received the grants from the Tampon Tax Community Fund, raised through the levy on sanitary products, which aims to help women and girls experiencing issues such as domestic abuse, sexual abuse and mental health.
Grant Cornwell MBE, Chief Executive at HIWCF said “This funding supports the smaller charities and community groups that are working incredibly hard to make a big difference to the lives of marginalised women and girls. We know there is a huge demand for these services, as this programme was once again oversubscribed, with funding only meeting 20% of the grant applications received. HIWCF are proud to support the work of these small but vital community organisations and we invite local businesses, families and individuals to join with us to help disadvantaged people during their time of need.”
Funding has been awarded to some of the following projects across Hampshire:
- Aurora New Dawn has received £9,967 to help women who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual abuse and/or stalking. As part of the grant, the ‘Strength In Survival’ Project will offer a weight lifting course to work with trauma and the body, to build strength and functional movement, with the support of a professional weight lifter.
- Yellow Door has received £10,000 to raise awareness of available services and support women over 60 where domestic abuse has been identified. Research has identified this as a growing area of concern with our ever increasing ageing population.
- City of Sanctuary Southampton Group has received £6,098 for a Sewing Club providing an opportunity to learn new skills for women who may be facing cultural barriers or social isolation. Many of the attendees face financial, educational, and health disadvantages and the group will create opportunities for friendship and shared expertise between local people and the women and girls seeking sanctuary.
City of Sanctuary Southampton
- Wight DASH has received £9,240 to deliver 60 support sessions, delivered by experienced facilitators, to up to 90 women with high levels of stressful or traumatic Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). These are traumatic events that may have occurred in a child’s life that can affect how they perceive themselves as an adult, interact with others, cope with emotional pain and how they use parenting skills.
The 12 organisations receiving funding are:
| Organisation | Area | Grant Amount |
| Footprints Project | Bournemouth | £9,785 |
| Making Space | Havant | £8,994 |
| Break the Cycle Community Interest Company | Isle of Wight | £6,734 |
| Vectis Radio Community Radio Station | Isle of Wight | £5,000 |
| Wight DASH | Isle of Wight | £9,240 |
| SCARF (Supporting Special Children & their Relatives & Friends) | New Forest | £2,875 |
| Aurora New Dawn | Portsmouth | £9,967 |
| Good Mental Health Cooperative | Portsmouth | £10,000 |
| Home-Start Hampshire | Rushmoor | £9,989 |
| City of Sanctuary Southampton Group | Southampton | £6,098 |
| Yellow Door | Southampton | £10,000 |
| Helping Hooves UK Ltd | Winchester | £7,739 |
| £96,421 |
– ENDS –
Notes To Editors
UKCF
The Government’s Tampon Tax Fund allocates funds generated from the VAT on sanitary products to projects to improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. UKCF applied to DCMS for a large grant to set up the Tampon Tax Community Fund, working with its network of Community Foundations to support projects and services run by local groups specifically benefitting women and girls. To date, a total of £6.9 million has been awarded.
In 2018/19 the community foundation network distributed more than £98 million worth of grants and supported more than 5,641 people and 15,526 organisations.
For more information please contact Sally Catmull, Head of Communications and External Affairs at UK Community Foundations on scatmull@ukcommunityfoundations.org or 020 7841 4389.
HIWCF Contact Details for Editor:
Name: Lucy Sweet, Marketing Manager, Grant Cornwell MBE, Chief Executive,
Telephone: (01256) 776116
Email: lucy@hiwcf.com
grant.cornwell@hiwcf.com
About Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation
Registered Charity No: 1100417 – Registered Company Number 4534462
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) is an independent charitable trust established to inspire local giving for local need. The Community Foundation works both with donors who want to give something back to their local communities and voluntary groups providing vital services for local people where often a few hundred pounds can make a real difference to their lives. Companies, individuals, families and trusts can establish a fund with the Foundation, which supports a growing programme of grant-making to communities. HIWCF is part of a national network of 46 Community Foundations, one of the fastest growing philanthropic movements in the UK. Local groups can take a look at the HIWCF website to see if they might qualify for a grant: www.hiwcf.com or email HIWCF at grantsadmin@hiwcf.com
