{"id":460348,"date":"2025-09-29T12:01:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T12:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/460348\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T12:01:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T12:01:17","slug":"comic-relief-fund-to-tackle-toxic-masculinity-misogyny-and-gender-inequality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/460348\/","title":{"rendered":"Comic Relief fund to tackle toxic masculinity, misogyny and gender inequality"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReece holds a basketball. The YMCA Sutton Coldfield is funded equally by money raised from Comic Relief and the #iwill Fund. Virtually Minded is a social action project which provides a safe space for young men to learn more about the importance of positive mental health and express themselves through interactive training and creative workshops. Location: Sutton Coldfield, England in February 2025. Photo by Andrew Whitton\/Comic Relief.<\/p>\n

Comic Relief has announced a new multi-million pound UK funding programme that will use the power of sport and mentorship to promote positive masculinity, healthier relationships and gender equality among boys and young men. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Backed by former Lioness Mary Earps, the initiative will \u201chelp challenge harmful norms and behaviours including toxic masculinity, misogyny and coercion\u201d.<\/p>\n

Over five years the new \u00a33.9 million<\/strong> programme will support seven specialist community-led organisations across London and the West Midlands. Organisations will use sports and physical activity like football, cricket and netball, to help implement early interventions that encourage boys and young men to become role models and leaders while also championing a culture of respect and healthy masculinity. <\/p>\n

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\"Great<\/a><\/p>\n

Participants will also take part in tailored education, mentoring and peer-led sessions to build skills that can be used to challenge harmful norms and behaviours that drive violence against women and girls in their own communities.<\/p>\n

Over two million women in the UK are estimated to be affected by male violence each year<\/a>. This violence has been declared a national emergency<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"AnonymousAnonymous imagery of two children playing football, taken from a project visit to London during the 2012 Sport Relief campaign on 29 July 2011. Photo by Comic Relief.<\/p>\n

Comic Relief\u2019s aim is to provide \u201cbold solutions and early engagement with boys and young men to create a better society where violence against women and girls is unthinkable\u201d. It has a long-standing commitment to gender justice with over 25 years funding experience. For example, over the last two years as a leading Sport for Change funder it has funded over 500 projects.<\/p>\n

Mary Earps<\/p>\n

Former Lioness team member and current PSG goalkeeper Mary Earps<\/strong> is keen to highlight the urgent need for more funding in this area.<\/p>\n

She said: <\/p>\n

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\u201cViolence against women and girls is an epidemic \u2013 harassment, toxic masculinity, misogyny, coercion, anxiety, fear, it keeps growing. I\u2019ve been playing sport my whole life, and I know that from the pitch to the playground, sport has the unique ability to bring people together. Comic Relief is using the power of sport to reach young boys, to support and educate them, and build allies to challenge harmful behaviour. This work will create strong role models in our communities, promote healthy attitudes, and build a safer world for women and girls so everyone can thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Samir Patel, CEO at Comic Relief, said: <\/p>\n

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\u201cToxic masculinity, misogyny and violence against women and girls have been at the forefront of public debate this year, in part due to the huge success of Netflix\u2019s Adolescence, which has shown the powerful role pop culture can play in bringing attention to the most pressing issues we face today.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith violence against women and girls at crisis levels in the UK, and public concern at an all-time high, we are proud to launch our first ever programme that uses sport and education to work with boys and girls in their formative years, to promote healthier relationships, positive masculinity and gender equality.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy bringing together young people, teachers, community leaders and role models, we aim build a future where girls and women feel safer, and where boys and men are supported to be part of the change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ATeam huddle. Anonymous imagery taken from a project visit during the 2010 Sport Relief campaign. Taken in London on 9th September 2009. Photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd\/Comic Relief.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Seven organisations to implement the programme<\/p>\n

The organisations that are part of this new programme are:<\/p>\n