Dorset Community Foundation has recently awarded £42,000 through their latest round of ‘Tampon Tax’ funding.
The money was distributed amongst eight women’s and girls’ projects across the county, including The Water Lily Project, Babigloo Music for Babies, The Shine Project and many more worthy causes.
The Tampon Tax is a tax that was added onto the value of sanitary products under the EU VAT laws. There has been much complaint and protest in regards to the tax, as the products weren’t regarded as a ‘necessary item’ and therefore incurred the extra charge. In January 2018, and with pressure from many women’s charities, the EU commission published proposals to overhaul the EU VAT rules, but were unable to scrap the tax completely. In 2015, the government announced it would set up a new scheme to provide grants for women’s charities funded by receipts form VAT on sanitary protection.
The Shine Project who are supported by the fund, aim to promote physical and mental health in school and increase confidence and resilience in young people. Anne Clackson, Co-ordinator explained: “we are delighted to have received a grant from the Tampon Tax Fund. This means that our project cab support up to 48 more female students aged 11-14, helping them develop and maintain good physical and mental health.”
This is the second time the DFC has awarded groups money from their Tampon Tax Fund to help women and girls experiencing issues such as period poverty, domestic and sexual abuse and difficulties with mental health.