UK government to launch £15m fund to tackle misogyny across workplaces, schools and public spaces

Chancellor John Healey expected to confirm funding in budget on Wednesday

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Updated27 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

The UK government will provide £15m for a dedicated fund to address misogyny in workplaces, schools and public places, as part of efforts to counter rising concerns about ‘manosphere’ influencers. Chancellor John Healey is expected to confirm the funding in the budget on Wednesday, with Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson leading the initiative.

The chancellor is expected to confirm £15m for a dedicated fund to tackle misogyny in workplaces, schools and public places in the budget on Wednesday. The fund, which will be overseen by Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson, marks the first time specific national cash has been allocated to address misogyny.

The government said organisations could bid for money from the misogyny prevention fund to provide services including mentoring for young people, workplace training and awareness campaigns to improve safety for women and girls. Ministers will also seek match funding from corporate partners and philanthropists to grow the amount available.

Campaigns that could be funded nationwide include Transport for London’s poster campaigns such as “Have a Word” and “Say Maaate to a Mate”, which encourage other men to intervene when they see abusive behaviour. Some critics have argued these campaigns have done relatively little to address major threats of violence against women and girls.

Phillipson said the fund’s aim was to educate and prevent everyday sexism. “Day to day misogyny – from sexist slurs and harassment to workplace discrimination – quite simply has no place in modern Britain,” she said. “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.”

Chancellor John Healey 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 government has previously announced a separate £20m fund to tackle misogynistic influences in schools, as part of the violence against women and girls strategy, intended to provide new funding and materials for schools to address relationship issues, online misogyny and misinformation.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The fund represents the first dedicated national money for tackling misogyny in the UK, signalling a government shift toward prevention rather than punishment.
It aims to address everyday sexism and harassment in public spaces, workplaces and schools, affecting millions of women and girls.
The budget confirmation on Wednesday will clarify whether match funding targets are met and how widely organisations can access the money.

Background

The fund follows the government's earlier announcement of a £20m schools package to counter misogynistic influences as part of a broader violence against women and girls strategy. The new fund is separate and broader, covering workplaces, public places and community settings.

Key Perspectives

Bridget Phillipson (Women and Equalities Minister): said the fund aims to educate and prevent everyday sexism, and that “the time for talk has long passed, which is why this government is putting its money where its mouth is.” Some critics: have argued that previous awareness campaigns like “Have a Word” have done relatively little to address major threats of violence against women and girls.

What to Watch

Whether the chancellor confirms the full £15m on Wednesday and announces any additional match funding commitments.
How the fund guidelines are written and which organisations are eligible to bid.
Whether the fund prompts similar initiatives in other parts of the UK or is replicated by local authorities.

Sources

UK government to give £15m to anti-misogyny fund amid ‘manosphere’ concerns · The Guardian
UK government to give £15m to anti-misogyny fund amid ‘manosphere’ concerns · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe UK government is to launch a £15m fund.UK news | The Guardian: “The women and equalities minister, Bridget Phillipson , will helm the UK-wide fund, announced last month, marking the first time there has been specific national cash to address misogyny.”
SupportedJohn Healey is expected to confirm the £15m funding in the budget on Wednesday.UK news | The Guardian: “The chancellor, John Healey , who is expected to confirm the £15m in the budget on Wednesday, said:”
Partly supportedThe fund is part of efforts to counter rising concerns about ‘manosphere’ influencers.UK news | The Guardian: “The chancellor will give £15m to a dedicated fund to tackle misogyny in workplaces, schools and public places amid concerns in government about the rise of “manosphere” influencers.”
SupportedThe £15m fund is for tackling misogyny in workplaces, schools and public places.UK news | The Guardian: “The chancellor will give £15m to a dedicated fund to tackle misogyny in workplaces, schools and public places”
SupportedBridget Phillipson will lead the fund.UK news | The Guardian: “The women and equalities minister, Bridget Phillipson , will helm the UK-wide fund”
SupportedThe source reports that this is the first time specific national cash has been allocated to address misogyny.UK news | The Guardian: “marking the first time there has been specific national cash to address misogyny.”
SupportedMinisters will seek match funding from corporate partners and philanthropists.UK news | The Guardian: “Ministers will also seek match funding from corporate partners and philanthropists to grow the amount of cash available.”
SupportedThe government had previously announced a separate £20m fund for tackling misogynistic influences in schools.UK news | The Guardian: “The government has previously announced a separate fund to tackle misogynistic influences in schools, as part of the violence against women and girls strategy. That £20m package”
SupportedPhillipson said: “Day to day misogyny – from sexist slurs and harassment to workplace discrimination – quite simply has no place in modern Britain,”UK news | The Guardian: ““Day to day misogyny – from sexist slurs and harassment to workplace discrimination – quite simply has no place in modern Britain,” she said, announcing the funding.”
SupportedPhillipson said: “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.”UK news | The Guardian: ““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.”
SupportedHealey said: “Every woman and girl deserves to feel safe, respected and able to pursue their ambitions – at school, at work and in their communities.”UK news | The Guardian: ““Every woman and girl deserves to feel safe, respected and able to pursue their ambitions – at school, at work and in their communities.”
SupportedHealey said: “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.”UK news | The Guardian: ““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.””

Correction

27 October 2026An earlier version of this story said the government announced the £15m funding on Tuesday. The fund was announced last month, and the chancellor is expected to confirm the funding in Wednesday’s budget.