The Monday Night Club, Malvern (Tampon Tax)

The Monday Night Club couldn’t wait to start their project funded by the Tampon Tax. The project focused on training and mentoring young women volunteers for the Club who come from disadvantaged groups, including women with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues.

In the first six months of our project our volunteers have organised a weekly social gathering for adults with learning disabilities, autism and / or mental health issues. We moved to a new and much improved venue in March.

Sessional activities at the weekly club have included a drumming workshop, an awards ceremony, two fancy dress parties, discos and karaoke. They have also organised sports activities including weekly training for a disability women’s football team, dance fitness and Zumba, two football tournaments, and taken part in a community disability sports day. Day trips were arranged to Cadbury World and to the seaside, Barry Island.

Creative arts and performance activities organised by the volunteers included card-making, pottery, open mic evenings and attending an interactive performance about young people and mental health. Three volunteers have completed training courses in Emergency First Aid and four others are booked to attend a mental health first aid course. We are currently arranging ‘Cooking for Healthy’ eating courses for this autumn (in association with the charity ‘Bags of Taste’), equality & diversity training and sexual health & relationship training.

Head of the charity Helen Gill said: ‘We hope our volunteers will become role models who can guide and support other young women going through similar life experiences as theirs. Once their confidence has grown, we hope they will be able to find work in the community’.