Tampon tax cash handed to Brighton women's charity

Brighton Oasis Project, a substance misuse service for women, will benefit from £217,000 from tax on tampons.

Jo-Anne Welsh, director of the charity, said the cash will be spent on increasing the safety and wellbeing of women working in the sex industry.

She said: “We are delighted to have been awarded £217k from the government’s Tampon Tax Fund. This funding will enable us to expand and strengthen our services for women involved in sex work.

“Cuts to Brighton Oasis Project’s funding over the last few years have created a challenging environment for us to work in and respond to the new ways in which sex work is undertaken.

“Sex workers are especially vulnerable to violence and the funding will enable us to recruit more staff who will be able to reach women across Sussex and ultimately make them safer.”

The fund comes from tax raised from tampons, and is designed to benefit charities that support women and girls, particularly those affected by violence and domestic abuse.

Brighton Oasis Project has supported women and their families in the city for almost 20 years, particularly women with drug and alcohol problems. It also provides care and support for children affected by substance misuse in the family.

Service users include women offenders, women working in the sex industry, homeless women and women whose children are ‘at risk’.

Last year, the service directly supported over 400 women and 150 children in Brighton.

Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I am delighted to hear that this funding will help to boost services for potentially vulnerable women in Sussex.

“My office has previously funded the Brighton Oasis Project in their worthwhile endeavours and it’s heartening to know that this money will be targeted at improving the safety of women in the county involved in sex work.”