The UK government has announced plans for a £15 million fund to help prevent misogyny, with proposed projects ranging from mentoring young people to workplace training and public awareness campaigns.
The funding, announced on Tuesday 27 October 2026, is intended to support programmes across the UK over three years. The government said it expects the commitment to be confirmed in the Budget on Wednesday 28 October.
How the £15 million fund would work
The Chancellor, John Healey, has announced £5 million a year for three years. The money would go to the Office for the Impact Economy, working with the Office for Equality and Opportunity.
Organisations would be able to bid for grants to run projects designed to prevent misogynistic attitudes and behaviour, and reduce their effects on women and girls. The government has identified possible areas for funding, including:
- Mentoring and positive role-model programmes for young people.
- Training and resources to address misogyny in workplaces.
- Public awareness and communications campaigns.
These are examples of the types of work that could receive support, not a list of grants already awarded. The announcement does not specify successful applicants, individual grant values or a timetable for the first payments.
Could the fund become larger?
Ministers want the £15 million public contribution to attract further investment from businesses and philanthropists. The Office for Equality and Opportunity will work with the Office for the Impact Economy to seek corporate match funding.
However, no confirmed amount of additional private funding was announced. The £15 million government commitment should not be confused with a larger, fully funded programme.
Why the government is introducing the fund
The proposal is intended to support the National Taskforce for Tackling Misogyny, launched in September and chaired by the Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson.
The taskforce is examining the causes and prevention of misogyny in communities, schools, workplaces and online. Its members include representatives from the Young Women’s Trust, Equimundo, the End Violence Against Women Coalition and Girlguiding, alongside regional leaders and researchers.
Phillipson said everyday misogyny, including sexist harassment and workplace discrimination, has no place in modern Britain. The Chancellor said the investment would support practical action to improve safety and opportunities for women and girls.
What remains to be established
The announcement establishes a proposed funding commitment and a mechanism for distributing grants, but it does not yet show which organisations will receive money or how effective the eventual programmes will be.
Important questions include the selection criteria for projects, the evidence used to assess prevention methods, how outcomes will be measured and whether additional private money is secured. These details will determine what practical difference the fund makes in schools, workplaces and local communities.
The fund is due to be confirmed in the 28 October Budget. This report reflects the government’s announcement ahead of that confirmation.
