The UK-wide grants generated from five per cent VAT on period products will be invested in vital projects tackling issues facing women and girls, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has said.
Projects supporting women and girls who are victims of domestic abuse and rape and those empowering girls through sport are among those set to benefit from the final round of the fund worth £11.25m.
Over the last six years, the Tampon Tax Fund has awarded £79m to organisations, with the latest boost bringing the total to £90.25m.
The 14 projects to benefit include The Big Give Trust’s ‘Women and Girls Match Fund’, Tommy’s ‘Equality in miscarriage and pregnancy care’, Women in Sport’s ‘Big Sister’, St Giles Trust’s ‘Women Rising, Enabling Neighbourhoods’, The Central British Fund for World Jewish Relief’s ‘STEP forward’ and the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Game Changers: Trailblazing Women’.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in March last year that the five per cent VAT charge on period products would be scrapped when the UK left the EU in January this year meaning the fund will now be wound down.
Downing Street has also announced the winners of the Points of Light awards which recognises outstanding individual volunteers.
Winners include Katrina McDonnell, who runs Homeless Period Belfast to alleviate period poverty in the city’s homeless community and Molly Fenton, who runs Love Your Period campaign to reduce stigma and period poverty in schools across Wales.
Laura and Julia Coryton, who led the original Stop Taxing Periods campaign and now run social enterprise Sex Ed Matters have also been awarded the accolade.
Laura Coryton said: “It’s amazing to receive this award as the Tampon Tax Fund comes to an end. The fund gave a total of £90.25m to female-focused charities - a huge sum for many vital causes. I hope these charities will continue to be supported as they solve many crucial societal issues and I’m so proud to have been part of the fund’s introduction.”
Nadine Dorries, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, added: “I’m delighted that these 14 organisations are receiving grants towards their exceptional projects helping disadvantaged women and girls.
“Over the last six years, the Tampon Tax Fund has supported charities right across the UK, and I’m extremely pleased that we were able to use VAT on period products for these important causes.
“I’d also like to congratulate Katrina, Molly, Laura and Julia on their very well deserved award, and thank them for their selfless hard work.”
