Tampon Tax Fund

 The Improve Project aimed to improve the lives of vulnerable, disadvantaged, and under-represented women and girls in areas of multiple deprivation across Northern Ireland through education and skills programmes to improve their capacities and create a sense of safety and belonging.

TWN delivered the Improve Project by administering the Tampon Tax funding through a grant aid process to grassroots organisations across Northern Ireland. TWN used their expertise in managing grant aid funding by offering over multiple tranches via open calls for funding.  Onward grants were provided to applicants that could demonstrate how funding would contribute to the areas of women’s education and employment as well as skills for the future.  

TWN’s Chairperson, Patricia Lewsley-Mooney, CBE welcoming everyone to the closing Tampon Tax Celebration event on Thursday 20 April in TWN commented “Tonight is all about the 1200 women across 26 projects throughout NI who took part in a project funded under the Tampon Tax funding. This funding was aimed at empowering the lives of women and girls.


The projects were delivered through a grant process in two areas: education and employment and skills for the future leadership and digital skills. This fund was timebound and was run out in just over a year.


The grants were not big up to £15,000 per project but it is amazing what these projects have managed to do and throughout the evening we will hear just some of the amazing achievements that has been accomplished by women right across the province.


Many women coming out of lockdown and isolation looked to projects such as this to provide activities and support for mental health and well-being.”


It is truly exceptional what these groups have been able to do and it proves that a little can go a very long way; it’s just a pity that the fund will not be replaced but I can assure you all that it will be a priority with TWN to try and replace the money that we have managed to distribute.

Project highlights