Government launches first ever misogyny prevention fund
New multi-million-pound fund to root out misogynistic attitudes and support women and girls.
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A new, multi-million-pound misogyny prevention fund will aim to root out misogynistic attitudes and support women and girls
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The Chancellor is providing £15m to act as basis to unlock further philanthropic and corporate funding
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Minister for Women Bridget Phillipson hails “critical step” as government works to “confine misogyny to history books”
A 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.
The 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.
The fund is expected to be confirmed in the budget on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
The fund will underpin Minister Phillipson’s misogyny prevention taskforce, demonstrating this government’s commitment to backing up words with action.
The investment will form the basis for work with corporate partners and philanthropists to unlock additional match funding and ultimately multiply its reach.
Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson said:
Day to day misogyny – from sexist slurs and harassment to workplace discrimination – quite simply has no place in modern Britain.
The 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.
Government 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.
Chancellor John Healey MP said:
Every woman and girl deserves to feel safe, respected and able to pursue their ambitions – at school, at work and in their communities.
This 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.
The funding will run through the OIE, in partnership with the Office for Equality and Opportunity, utilising the OIE’s expertise in mobilising external funding and partnership working.
The 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.
Examples of similar work already ongoing in the sector include:
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Expect 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’s safe
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investment in mentoring and interventions from positive role models for girls and boys respectively, alongside active bystander training, funded by the Mayor of London
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workplace training and resources from Equimundo, aimed at men and designed to foster gender equality in the workplace
Notes to editors:
- The 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.
- The work and issues identified by the taskforce will be supported by £5m of funding per year for the next 3 years to deliver programmes and pilots that work to prevent misogyny and reduce its impacts.
- The Office for Equality and Opportunity will work with the Office for the Impact Economy to crowd in corporate match funding to increase the size of this pot.