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Introduction

Updated 21 May 2020

Introduction

The purpose of the Tampon Tax Fund is to allocate the funds generated from the VAT on sanitary products to projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. The fund was announced by the then Chancellor during the 2015 Autumn Statement, who said:

There are many great charities that work to support vulnerable women. And my Honourable Friend, the new Member for Colchester, has proposed to me a brilliant way to give them more help. 300,000 people have signed a petition arguing that no VAT should be charged on sanitary products.

We already charge the lowest 5% rate allowable under European law and we’re committed to getting the EU rules changed. Until that happens, I’m going to use the £15 million a year raised from the Tampon Tax to fund women’s health and support charities.

The launch of this round of funding demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to ensuring that the VAT received from sanitary products is used to support vulnerable and underrepresented women and girls. This guide introduces the next round of Tampon Tax Funding and provides details of how to apply.

The 2020/21 round of Tampon Tax Funding is inviting charitable, benevolent and philanthropic organisations from across the United Kingdom to bid into one of three categories: violence against women and girls, young women’s mental health and well being, and a general programme. The criteria for each category can be found below.

We particularly, but not exclusively, welcome applications from Women’s Specialist Charities and organisations whose projects include making onward grants to Women’s Specialist Charities.

Applications should be for £1 million or more and be from organisations that can deliver impact across their chosen category and across multiple regions in one or more of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Please note that the £15million total fund is allocated between each administration using the Barnett Formula as a guide. Wales is allocated £905,000, Northern Ireland is allocated £530,000, Scotland is allocated £1,570,000 and England £11,995,000.

As the minimum application amount is £1million, neither Wales nor Northern Ireland have sufficient allocation to have a project which is delivered wholly and exclusively within their administrations. Therefore funding allocation for Wales and Northern Ireland will be made within UK wide projects, largely through projects making onward grants. Please do not submit applications for projects which deliver wholly and exclusively in either Northern Ireland or Wales.

Applications are welcomed from individual organisations or formal consortia with an identified lead organisation. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from organisations whose projects include (as a way of utilising existing expertise in the sector, increasing geographical reach, and improving impact) making onward grants to other charitable organisations. We welcome applications which aim to use Tampon Tax Funding to leverage additional resources, and therefore include an element of match funding.

Notes:

• this fund is open to charitable, benevolent and philanthropic organisations from across the United Kingdom; grants may be for 1 or 2 year projects
• all activities must be concluded and funds must be spent by 30th June 2022
• the value of the grant requested in each financial year must not represent more than 50% of the applicant organisation’s, or consortia’s collective, annual income for that financial year
• applications must include details of arrangements for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults as part of their planned activities

Successful applicants will be informed in Summer 2020. We expect individual grant agreements will be finalised with successful applicants by Summer 2020. Exact timing will vary on a case-by-case basis.

Application details:

• the deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 7th June 2020
• all applicants should answer all questions on the application form
• all applications received by the closing date will be assessed following the closing date
• any applications received after the closing date will not be assessed
• all available information and guidance relating to this round of funding is contained within this document and the application form
• as the application process is competitive, the Tampon Tax Fund team are not able to answer individual questions or respond to requests for support in completing the application

completed applications should be submitted via ttfapplications@culture.gov.uk