Tampon Tax Fund opens for final funding round
The Government has announced charities across the UK can apply now for projects that improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged women and girls in the UK.
The Tampon Tax Fund was introduced in response to VAT being imposed on sanitary products by the European Union. Given that the UK has left the European Union and there has been no tax on period products in the UK since 1 January 2021, the Fund is closing due to lack of income. This is the sixth year of the fund.
This year, the funding is for projects which focus on one of two categories:
- Violence against women and girls
- General programme (for which the Government has identified a number of sub-themes)
The fund is open to individual organisations or formal consortia of charitable, benevolent and philanthropic organisations based and working in the UK. There is particular interest in applications from specialist women’s networks whose projects include making onward grants to other women’s charitable organisations.
In 2021, there is a total of £11.25 million which will be allocated between each administration using the Barnett Formula as a guide: £675,000 for Wales; £393,750 for Northern Ireland; £1.181 million for Scotland; and £9 million for England.
The minimum grant has been decreased from the previous £1 million to £350,000 to enable more charities to apply. There is no maximum grant. Grants may be for 12 to 18-month projects. All activities must be concluded, and funds spent by 31 March 2023. The grant must not represent more than 50% of the applicant’s or consortia’s collective annual income.
Commenting on the final round, Minister for Civil Society and Youth, Baroness Barran, said:
“The support provided through this final round will ensure specialist charities who receive grants can support women and girls in need, and help to become more sustainable and plan for the future.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said:
“The lower grant threshold for this final round of applications will ensure that even more charities can access funding. I’d strongly urge Scottish charities working to support disadvantaged women and girls to apply.”
The deadline for applications is midnight on 4 July 2021.
