A new, multi-million-pound misogyny prevention fund will aim to root out misogynistic attitudes and support women and girls
\nThe Chancellor is providing £15 million to act as basis to unlock further philanthropic and corporate funding
\nMinister for Women Bridget Phillipson hails “critical step” as government works to “confine misogyny to history books”
\nA new drive to support women and girls and tackle misogyny is in line for government investment, as the Chancellor, John Healey, and Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, announce the first misogyny prevention fund.
\n\nThe Chancellor will provide a £15 million injection to the Office for the Impact Economy (OIE) to be invested in schemes over 3 years that could include mentoring for young people, workplace training and communications campaigns to improve outcomes and safety for women and girls across the UK.
\n\nThe fund is expected to be confirmed in the 2026 Budget on Wednesday 28 October.
\n\nThe fund will underpin Bridget Phillipson’s misogyny prevention taskforce, demonstrating this government’s commitment to backing up words with action.
\n\nThe investment will form the basis for work with corporate partners and philanthropists to unlock additional match funding and ultimately multiply its reach.
\n\nMinister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson said:
\n\n\n\n\nDay to day misogyny – from sexist slurs and harassment to workplace discrimination – quite simply has no place in modern Britain.
\n\nThe time for talk has long passed, which is why this government is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to supporting women and girls. This funding is a critical step as we work to confine misogyny to the history books, where it belongs.
\n\nGovernment is leading from the front, but we all have a role to play. Everyone – from big business to members of the public – can do their bit to stamp out misogyny and improve the lives of women and girls everywhere.
\n
Chancellor John Healey MP said:
\n\n\n\n\nEvery woman and girl deserves to feel safe, respected and able to pursue their ambitions – at school, at work and in their communities.
\n\nThis investment will back practical action to tackle misogyny head-on, while bringing businesses and philanthropists on board so we can go even further – giving women and girls more opportunity to succeed and hope for the future.
\n
The funding will run through the OIE, in partnership with the Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO), using the OIE’s expertise in mobilising external funding and partnership working.
\n\nThe fund will operate a bidding process through which organisations will receive grants to deliver programmes that meet the government’s ambition of preventing misogyny in all its forms, and reducing its impacts.
\n\nExamples of similar work already ongoing in the sector include:
\n\nExpect Respect from Women’s Aid – a free programme for schools that educates children on what is and is not normal in relationships and stepping in when it is safe
\ninvestment in mentoring and interventions from positive role models for girls and boys respectively, alongside active bystander training, funded by the Mayor of London
\nworkplace training and resources from Equimundo, aimed at men and designed to foster gender equality in the workplace
\nThe Minister for Women and Equalities has set up a national misogyny prevention taskforce to show what works to prevent misogyny and drive delivery across government.
\n\nThe work and issues identified by the taskforce will be supported by £5 million of funding each year for the next 3 years to deliver programmes and pilots that work to prevent misogyny and reduce its impacts.
\n\nOEO will work with OIE to crowd in corporate match funding to increase the size of this pot.
\nThe Minister for Women and Equalities has strategic oversight of business and policy including:
\n\nThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the government’s chief financial minister and is responsible for growing the UK economy, raising revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling public spending. He has overall responsibility for the work of the Treasury.
\n\nThe Chancellor’s responsibilities cover:
\n\nEconomic and fiscal policy (including presenting the annual Budget)
\nOversight of the monetary framework, including setting the inflation remit, and liaison with the Governor of the Bank of England on monetary policy
\nUK growth and productivity, including working across government on innovation, new technologies, skills, labour markets, migration and competition.
\nUK public financial institutions
\nCapital markets and listings
\nLeading on international economic and financial affairs including at the G7 and G20 and acting as the UK Governor of the IMF, EBRD and AIIB.
\nEconomic security and resilience policy
\nInternational defence and security financing
\n