#MatchHerDream #BreakTheBias: One donation, twice the impact.

The inaugural Big Give Women & Girls Match Fund campaign, established to support charities working to improve the lives of vulnerable, disadvantaged, or underrepresented women and girls in England and Scotland, will go live at midday on International Women’s Day on 8 March 2022.

The campaign comes as 89% of women and girls aid organisations stated that the needs of women had become greater during the pandemic, while 63% reported an increase in demand for their services, further fuelling the £10billion charity-sector-wide funding gap.

During the week-long fundraising campaign (8 – 15 March 2022) all public donations made – no matter how big or small – to the participating charities via theBigGive.org.uk will be matched, and therefore all donations doubled.

The campaign is seeking to raise over £2.5m in total. Match funding is being provided by the Tampon Tax fund, which was collected from the 5% VAT on sanitary products until 2021, released and awarded to The Big Give by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports’ (DCMS).

Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth, Nigel Huddleston said:

“We want to support disadvantaged women and girls in any way we can. Over the last six years, our Tampon Tax Fund has used over £90 million from VAT on period products to fund important causes right across the UK.

“I’m pleased that £2.3 million in government funding will help match the public’s generous donations to the Big Give Women & Girls Match Fund programme, to support this and other heroic charities in their efforts helping disadvantaged women and girls.”

119 charities from the women and girls sector are signed up to take part in the campaign, which support a variety of causes from mental health; sexual, physical, and mental abuse; loneliness; domestic violence; female offenders; gender equality; to maternal health; education and employment.

Bethany Duxbury-Campbell, the Big Give’s Partnerships Executive and active champion of the Women & Girls campaign commented:

“International Women’s Day is a powerful movement for everyone worldwide to celebrate women’s achievements, support the women and girls in our lives and reflect on the role we can each play in advancing gender equality. I’m proud to be working with the charities involved and inspired by all the work they do, on their mission to drive positive change.”

Covid-19 has had a shocking impact on gender equality. 60% of UK mothers say the state of gender equality has been negatively affected by Covid-19, while the pandemic forced many areas of the job market to close, women were approximately 33% more likely to work in affected industries. For girls, 58% are worried about the impact of the pandemic on their mental health, and limited opportunities to socialise and learn new things has led to a drop in confidence for 51%

Recent cases of violence against women, including Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard, have made national headlines and raised awareness of this systemic issue, but organisations serving these communities face devastating funding gaps.

Jade Secker, Fundraising Manager at The Haven, a participating charity commented:

“Women and children are at the heart of everything we do at The Haven and so to be able to centre them and their voices in such an inaugural campaign is so important to us.

“Taking part will not only raise awareness of the work we do supporting those subjected to domestic abuse and homelessness, but it will also provide a vital opportunity to raise funds so we can continue to be there for women in their darkest time. Many women often arrive to us with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing and are in desperate need of help to rebuild their lives. Every penny raised for The Haven will support women on their journey back to independence and safety.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Big Give and all those involved for the opportunity and a heartfelt thank you in advance to all those who choose to support our project.”

Bethany concluded: “Now more than ever, charities need to receive much needed support in order to help the women and girls in our communities, to make a lasting positive difference. It’s our ambition following the launch of this inaugural campaign to help create a long-term philanthropic legacy for giving to women and girls organisations.”

Founded by the Big Give, the UK’s #1 match funding platform which brings charities, philanthropists, and the public together to multiply their impact, the campaign will see donations doubled – making money go further and allowing charities to help women and girls dream freely, achieve proudly and live boldly.

MatchHerDream | #IWD2022 | #BreakTheBias | One donation, twice the impact.

Key dates:

• Tuesday 8 March 2022 (midday) – Campaign opens.
• Tuesday 15th March (midday) – Campaign closes, and donations will no longer be
  matched.

To find out more, and to donate visit: theBigGive.org.uk