First misogyny prevention fund to get £15m from the Chancellor

The government is to launch the UK's first ever misogyny prevention fund, with £15 million from the Chancellor to pay for mentoring, workplace training and campaigns aimed at tackling sexist attitudes and keeping women and girls safe.

The money, announced today by the Chancellor, John Healey, and the Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, is expected to be confirmed in tomorrow's Budget. It will be spent over three years, at £5 million a year.

Seed money for a bigger pot

The government wants the £15 million to act as a foundation that attracts more money from businesses and philanthropists. It will be run by the Office for the Impact Economy, which specialises in bringing in outside funding, working with the Office for Equality and Opportunity.

Organisations will be able to bid for grants to run programmes that prevent misogyny in all its forms or reduce its effects. The fund will support the national misogyny prevention taskforce that Ms Phillipson has set up to find out what works and drive action across government.

What could be funded

The government points to examples of the kind of work already going on. Expect Respect, from Women's Aid, is a free programme for schools that teaches children what is and is not normal in relationships, and how to step in when it is safe to do so. In London, the mayor has funded mentoring from positive role models for girls and boys, alongside "active bystander" training. Equimundo provides workplace training and resources aimed at men, designed to promote equality at work.

"No place in modern Britain"

Ms 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," she said. "This funding is a critical step as we work to confine misogyny to the history books, where it belongs."

She added: "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."

Mr 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."

What it could mean locally

The fund will work through a bidding process, so organisations including those in Birmingham will be able to seek grants. Programmes like the ones the government highlights, from school sessions on healthy relationships to bystander training, could be run in the city's classrooms and workplaces.

How far the fund reaches will depend on how much extra money businesses and philanthropists add to the government's £15 million.