New funding is available to women’s groups and organisations as Empowering Women Fund opens. 

From the 12 April women’s organisations will be able to apply for new funding through the Empowering Women Fund, with grants from £500 – £25,000 available across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The Empowering Women Fund, part of the Labyrinth Project, is a Tampon Tax funded grant scheme led by Solace. It will provide funding to support small women’s groups and organisations to respond to the multiple issues affecting women’s lives that have been intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic. These issues range from violence against women and girls, to financial, employment and legal issues.

The funding aims to address the need for more joined-up, holistic, women-centred services, developing innovative ways of empowering women in their local area and building the capacity of small organisations.

Organisations can apply for seed funding grants of £500-£1,000, which are available to small women’s groups to establish and run micro empowerment projects in their local area that support women to build skills and confidence, and decrease social isolation. Larger Women’s Sector grants of £1,000 – £25,000 are also available for women’s groups and organisations to develop capacity to respond to changing needs in their communities.

The fund particularly welcomes applications from marginalised communities.

The deadline for the first round of funding is 28 May 2021.

If you are an organisation supporting women, you can visit solacewomensaid.org/empowering-women-fund to apply for a grant, or contact labyrinth@solacewomensaid.org to find out more.

If you would like to talk to someone local about support on this, please get in touch with Jackie at Leeds Women’s Aid via email: JackieO@leedswomensaid.org.uk

Leeds Women's Aid