More than 400 local projects across the UK working with some of society’s most vulnerable women and girls have received a much-needed funding boost from their local Community Foundation.
In Surrey, eight local charities received over £55k to give girls and young women mental health support, provide them with work and education opportunities and support single isolated mothers.
Small charities and community groups have received between £5,000 – £10,000 from the Tampon Tax Community Fund to provide services for women of all ages and backgrounds facing issues such as period poverty, domestic and sexual abuse, mental health and long-term unemployment to build their skills, confidence and self-esteem.
As one of the UK’s largest grant-giving organisations, UK Community Foundations was asked by government to distribute the largest share of the funding raised through the levy on sanitary products in 2017/18 to small, local projects, working with its network of Community Foundations across the country.
UKCF Director of Programmes and Development Vicki Papworth said:
“Community Foundations work with grassroots groups who are running vital services on a shoestring and supporting some of the most marginalised people in our society. This funding will enable them to run some amazing projects that make difference on the ground to the women and girls who need it most.”
Examples of some of the projects the Community Foundation for Surrey have funded are:
- Social Care Support charity the Halow Project – to support health and well-being work that specifically tackles the sexual health and relationship issues faced by learning-disabled young women
- Home-Start Waverley – to support mothers with young children in single-parent households
- Domestic Abuse charity yourSanctuary – to extend community outreach support which will provide emotional and practical help to those who have been affected by domestic abuse
Kate Peters – Director of Grants and Impact, the Community Foundation for Surrey said:
“We are very pleased that this funding was available in Surrey and I’m looking forward to hearing about the great projects our local groups are running to support women and girls.”
Community Foundations were oversubscribed in all areas for the Tampon Tax Community Fund. Only a quarter of the 1,500 applications for vital women and girls projects could be supported from this stream of funding.
Community Foundations are independent charities that make grants to support grassroots groups. They work with local businesses, funders and government to create tailored programmes of grant-making that respond to the needs and assets of communities. They also distribute funding secured through national programmes, including the Tampon Tax Community Fund.
