The funding will support a diverse range of projects over the next two years including helping women at risk of homelessness or modern slavery to programmes that address problem gambling and violence against women. The money has been awarded to larger projects with around £7.5 million given to four projects making onward grants to small and medium sized organisations across the UK.

Minister for Civil Society Mims Davies said:

It is absolutely right we invest money from sanitary products in projects to give more women and girls the help >and support they need to address difficult challenges they face in our society.

This important funding will help thousands more vulnerable women of all ages across our communities.

It will provide more of the opportunities they need to rebuild their lives.

Over 70 charities have received grants from the Tampon Tax Fund, with £47 million allocated since the Autumn Statement in 2015. This additional £15 million brings the total to £62 million.

The latest round of funding has been awarded to:

Through the creation of a Tampon Tax Community Fund, the UKCF will deliver a UK wide onward grants programme to projects that will make a difference to the health, wellbeing, confidence and social and economic activity of women and girls. The grants will be awarded via an open competition.

Homeless Link £2,000,000 (England wide)

They will run an onward grants programme to provide direct support to women who are, or are at risk of, homelessness across England. Homeless women often have different needs and issues to men, and the project will produce and disseminate evidence-based learning and resources about the best ways to provide gender specific support to homeless women.

Spirit of 2012 £1,500,000 (UK wide)

This project called ‘The Carers Music Fund’ is a UK wide onward grants project that aims to increase access to music making for women and girls with caring responsibilities.

Comic Relief £1,294,002 (UK wide)

This project is an onward grants programme investing in projects working to end violence against women and girls, particularly those who are more at risk due to multiple and complex needs.

Gamcare £1,191,818 (UK wide)

Through their Vulnerable Women and Problem Gambling Programme this project will develop better support for women and girls affected by problem gambling. Gamcare will work with a network of organisations to improve treatment options for women who are problem gamblers and women affected by domestic violence related to gambling.

Crisis UK £1,140,000 (UK wide)

This project will help homeless women who are survivors of modern slavery rebuild their lives and find new homes. It will develop a model to identify and support the recovery of women who have escaped modern slavery and are homeless or precariously housed and help them into accommodation.

SACRO £1,092,194 (Scotland wide)

This Scotland-wide project will provide support to women who work as prostitutes and use the internet to find clients. The project will reach out to women online, provide basic safety information and support, and signpost them to specialist one-to-one support services

Southall Black Sisters £1,090,000 (London, North-East & Manchester)

Southall Black Sisters will provide support for women with no recourse to public funds through their ‘Recourse to Safety’ project. It will make essential support and protection available to abused women by providing safe accommodation, subsistence and help including counselling, therapy, immigration advice and community awareness-raising.

Changing Lives £1,000,000 (North East & Yorkshire)

Changing Lives’ ‘STAGE’ project will provide support for vulnerable women who have been groomed by groups of men for sexual exploitation in locations across the North East and Yorkshire.

Youth Access £1,000,000 (England wide)

This project is a consortium of 12 organisations that aims to improve the number of young women accessing mental health support across England through their services. This will include a range of psychological therapies, group and one to one support, with a focus on young women with multiple needs and BAME young women.

Notes for Editors

1. For more information call DCMS Press Office on 0207 211 2210.
2. More information about the Tampon Tax Fund can be found here.

Our report into the collision between the passenger ferry Red Falcon and the motor cruiser Phoenix while heading for Cowes, Isle of Wight on 29 September 2018, is now published.

The report contains details of what happened and the subsequent actions taken: read more.

Statement by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to UN, at the Security Council Briefing on UNDOF/Golan Heights

Thank you Madam President and thank you to the two Under-Secretaries-General for your helpful briefings.

Madam President, I’d like to structure my remarks around six headings:

1. The UK position on the Golan;
2. UN Security Council Resolutions;
3. What this means for the international order;
4. Israel’s right to security;
5. The Middle East Peace Process;
6. and UNDOF.

On the first point, the United Kingdom’s position has not changed Madam President. It is our position that the Golan Heights is territory occupied by Israel.

The turbulent history of the region is of course well-known. Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel took control of the Golan, including the disputed Sheba’a Farms, and in 1981 took the decision to annex the territory. The United Kingdom did not recognise that annexation and nor do we today.

Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law, including the UN Charter. In addition, under the Law of State Responsibility, states are obliged not recognise the annexation of territory as a result of force.

Turning to the UN Security Council Resolutions; it is important, Madam President, that we uphold the relevant UN Security Resolutions. Security Council Resolution 242 – which the then British delegation had the honour to pen – was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on November 22, 1967. British sponsored, it called on all parties to end territorial claims, acknowledge the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and for “the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict”.

We recall, Madame President, that Security Council Resolution 497, adopted unanimously on 17 December 1981, decided that the Israeli Golan Heights Law, which effectively annexed the Golan Heights, is “null and void and without international legal effect” and it further demanded that Israel rescind its action.

The decision by the United States to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights is in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 497.

In terms of international order, Madame President, the United Kingdom firmly believes that the rules based international system has increased states’ ability to resolve their differences peacefully, and it has provided a framework for the greatest sustained rise in prosperity which mankind has seen. This is why the United Kingdom thinks we should work hard with our international partners to nurture and protect these rules.

Madame President, the right to self defence is inherent. Israel has a right to defend itself. She has a right to security and her people has a right to live in safety. We do not wish to diminish Israel’s genuine security concerns. We fully support her right to defend herself and urge, the Asad Regime, Iran and Hizbollah to refrain from actions which will only lead to increased instability in the region as well as put civilians at risk. As the US Representative has noted, Syria has allowed the use of its territory to launch missiles at Israel and at Israeli civilians. This is not acceptable. But at the same time Madame President, we emphasise importance of adhering to rules-based international system and abiding by UNSCRs which are designed to protect that system. And this is true irrespective of the importance of the Golan is to Israel’s security, or of the lack of progress in peace talks.

Turning to the peace talks; Resolution 242 enshrined the concept of land for peace and this has proven successful in ending the conflict between Israel, Jordan and Egypt. We believe it remains a basic principle for resolving peace between Israel, the Palestinians and other neighbours.

I want to emphasise, Madame President, that we strongly welcome the US’s efforts on the Middle East Peace Process and we encourage the US Administration to bring forward detailed proposals for a viable Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement that addresses the legitimate concerns of both parties. We continue to believe that the best way to achieve this is through substantive peace talks between the parties leading to a two-state solution.

Finally, Madame President, turning to UNDOF; the United Kingdom expresses its strong support for UNDOF. It should be the only armed forces active in the area of separation. The presence and activity of any other armed forces, armed personnel and/or military equipment of any kind in the area of separation contravenes the Disengagement of Forces Agreement and Security Council Resolution 2394 of 2017. The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting UNDOF’s mandate and we look forward to engaging in discussions regarding its renewal in June.

Thank you Madam President.

Statement by Ambassador Jonathan Allen, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to UN, at the Security Council Briefing on Syria