Making the match
From 8–15 October 2025, The Big Give’s Women and Girls Match Fund returns for its fifth year, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl. The offers a unique opportunity to double the impact of donations made to charities supporting women and girls across the UK and globally. With match funding provided by philanthropic champions like the Julia Rausing Trust, every pound donated becomes two—unlocking vital resources for organisations working on the frontlines of gender justice. [biggive.org]
Closing the Funding Gap
Despite the essential work carried out by women-led organisations, the sector remains critically underfunded. According to a recent report commissioned by Rosa – the UK fund for women and girls, just 1.8% of UK charitable funding goes to organisations run by and for women and girls. This chronic underinvestment is happening at a time when 91% of these organisations report rising demand for their services. Many are small, specialist groups with fewer than ten staff, yet they deliver life-changing support to some of the most marginalised communities. [rosauk.org]
The Rosa study also highlights how the competitive funding environment forces these organisations to spend disproportionate time chasing short-term grants, diverting energy from their core mission. The Big Give campaign providing a platform for digital fundraising and match funding, enabling charities to raise unrestricted funds and build long-term resilience.
Spotlight on the North East: Supporting Local
This year, several North East organisations are taking part in The Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund, including
WHIST (Women’s Health in South Tyneside), My Sisters’ Place , Smart Works Newcastle, RSACC, Tyneside Women’s Health , Young Women’s Film Academy and The Girls’ Network.
These groups are embedded in our communities, offering vital services that address the unique challenges faced by women and girls in the North East of England—an area that continues to experience economic inequality, health disparities, and limited access to specialist support.
‘We started our appeal to mark October being National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month — a time for us all to come together, raise our voices, and take action. 💜 Every day, women and girls in our community are facing fear, isolation, and harm but with your help, we can change that.
Together, we can provide the vital support needed through holistic, therapeutic and practical support to victims during their journey out of abuse and support survivors to make life-changing decisions.’ My Sisters Place, Represent Women member, and The Big Give Women and Girls Fund 2025 participant.
The Importance of Women and Girls-Only Spaces
Organisations led by women, for women are crucial in the North-East due to their unique ability to address the specific needs and challenges. They provide tailored holistic support ensuring women and girls have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.
How You Can Support
Supporting the Women and Girls Match Fund:
- Share the campaign with your networks to amplify visibility.
- Champion women-led organisations by learning more about their work and advocating for sustained investment in gender-specific services.
- Donate between 8–15 October via The Big Give platform. Your gift will be doubled, making twice the impact.
- Become a Represent Women Member to strengthen the network of support