Women and Girls Projects Share in £70,000 of Funding

Hundreds of women and girls from across Lancashire will benefit from £70,000 from the first round of funding of the Lancashire Women’s Fund.

Established by the Community Foundation for Lancashire, small grassroots charities and community groups have received between £5,000 - £10,000 from the Lancashire Women’s Fund to provide services for women of all ages and backgrounds facing issues such as domestic violence and abuse, mental health and wellbeing, confidence, aspiration, self-belief and resilience and social isolation.

Decisions were made by an independent panel and the fund was significantly oversubscribed with bids of over £401,000 for a pot worth £70,000.

Community Foundation for Lancashire Chief Executive Rae Brooke said: “We are delighted to award the first round of funding from the Lancashire Women’s Fund. This funding will enable local grassroots charities and community groups to run some amazing projects that make difference to the lives of women and girls who need it most.”

The eight projects being funded across the Lancashire include:

• Connector Media CIC has received £4,728 to a banner creating projects, designed and sewn by survivors of domestic abuse.
• Blackburn & Darwen District without Abuse has received £9,286 to cover sessional worker costs to deliver programmes targeting women and children, particularly refugees.
• Aawaz has received £9,360 to support 35 women from disadvantaged background increase their skills in computer science and technology.
• Fylde Coast Women’s Aid Support has received £9,820 to cover the cost of a Domestic Abuse Practitioner for women over 50 at risk of domestic abuse.
• UR Potential has received £9,988 towards the Girls Matter Project that will focus on young women’s safety and building skills and confidence.
• HARV Domestic Abuse Services has received £8,300 to support health and wellbeing programmes for young women suffering from domestic abuse.
• Saheliyaan Asian Women's Forum has received £8,980 to educate women on the cultural and legal differences of living in Britain.
• Idle Women has received £9,880 towards the development of the Physic Garden to aid women's health, recovery and advancement from mental health issues.

Community Foundations are independent charities that make grants to support grassroots groups. They work with local businesses, funders and government to create tailored programmes of grant-making that respond to the needs and assets of communities. They also distribute funding secured through national programmes.