Sixteen organisations across England are to receive a share of £1.97m from the government to support women experiencing reproductive health issues in the workplace.
The organisations include Ashiana Community Project, Best Beginnings, Brook, Endometriosis UK, Fertility Network UK, Here, Maternity Action, Mind, Sands, Suffolk Libraries, The Eve Appeal, The Heeley Trust, Wellbeing of Women, The Women’s Organisation and Tommy’s.
The funding follows the organisations’ successful applications to this year’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Fund.
The funds will help women to remain in or return to the workplace through and following pregnancy, pregnancy loss or menopause, and delivers on commitments in the first Women’s Health Strategy for England.
Launched in April 2018, the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund is a joint initiative run by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency. A new round of the fund is launched every year and typically runs over three financial years.
The theme of the fund for 2022 to 2025 is women’s reproductive wellbeing in the workplace.
Linking in with the development of the new Women’s Health Strategy, this fund aims to support organisations that can provide a holistic support offer to assist women experiencing reproductive health issues – for example, menopause, fertility problems, miscarriage and pregnancy loss, menstrual health, and gynaecological conditions – to remain in and return to the workplace.
Health minister Helen Whately (pictured) said: “We are supporting women experiencing reproductive health issues – such as pregnancy loss or menopause – to remain in or return to the workplace through the Health and Wellbeing Fund.
“We have already put women’s health at the top of the agenda by publishing the first ever Women’s Health Strategy for England, but there’s always more that can be done.
“The contribution that the VCSE sector makes towards improving health and care is invaluable, and improves the health of thousands of women.”
Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: “The VCSE sector makes a significant contribution towards improving health and care, and these projects will help deliver some of the important commitments set out in the Women’s Health Strategy for England.
“The sector brings a wealth of understanding of the impact on people’s lives, including those from disadvantaged groups, helping us provide positive support to even more women wanting to remain in and return to the workplace.”
