FIVE organisations in Hampshire who work with vulnerable women have received a cash boost.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation has awarded grants to CIS'ters in Eastleigh, Avenue Centre , Footprints Project and City Life Church in Southampton as well as Trinity Winchester.

The news comes after HIWCF partnered with UK Community Foundations on the tampon tax community fund, set up to help vulnerable women and girls in need..

CIS'ters, a charity providing emotional support for females over 18 years old who have been sexually abused or exploited by a member of their immediate or extended family have received £10,000.

The money will enable the organisation to host extra screenings of a documentary which raises awareness on adverse childhood experience.

The funding will also be used to acquire an ACEs recovery toolkit, an 8 to 10 week group programme for any adult who is living with adverse childhood experiences.

Gillian Finch, Chief Executive at CIS’ters said: “The majority of the CIS’ters workforce are themselves service users, empowered to move beyond their childhood experiences, so the initial impact will help to raise the esteem of all of those who deliver the project.

"Our pilot screenings have proved very popular with demand much higher than expected and we are delighted to receive this funding to enable us to roll out the screenings programme.

"This awareness will help us to support more clients who are in desperate need. Whilst the screenings raise public and professional awareness outside of CIS’ters, the ACEs Recovery Toolkit will be used to help empower more women.”

The Avenue Centre have been awarded £5,530 to run two courses to help mums with behaviour management, emotional strength following a traumatic event and positive coping strategies.

Footprints Project have received £9,950 to develop a female volunteer mentoring service for women ex-offenders in Hampshire to access individualised support to improve their health and wellbeing, build their skills, confidence and social connections.

Trinity Winchester have received a grant of £6,926 to enable vulnerable women to enhance their creativity and build confidence and self-esteem, through Crafty Café activities involving furniture upcycling and making home décor and accessories, in an informal café setting, with home-made cakes created by participants.

Grant Cornwell MBE, Chief Executive at HIWCF said: "HIWCF is committed to helping disadvantaged people across our region and this grant programme enables us to support a range of truly vital projects run by deserving charities and community groups.”