Movember invests £3 million in new government partnership to scale community-led men’s health support

Movember

4 minutes read time

Movember is committing £3 million to a new £6.3 million partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care and People’s Health Trust to fund community-led approaches to improving men’s health across England.

How the Men's Health Community Fund works

The new ‘Men’s Health Community Fund’ will support organisations working directly with men and boys aged 16+, particularly those least likely to engage with traditional health services. Over the next three years, the partnership will trial and scale new approaches to reaching men earlier, building connection, and improving outcomes at key moments in their lives—including fatherhood, job loss and retirement.

Movember’s £3 million contribution effectively doubles the government’s initial investment, bringing the total value of the Fund to £6.3 million, with further fundraising planned.

The partnership supports delivery of England’s first Men’s Health Strategy, with a focus on prevention, reducing health inequalities and strengthening community-based care.

New ways of connecting men to services they need

While men face a range of health challenges, many are still not engaging with traditional services. Evidence and experience from community organisations show that more informal, trusted and peer-based approaches can play a critical role in reaching men earlier and supporting better long-term outcomes.

Movember has a long history of funding and supporting community-based programmes globally, working with organisations that create spaces for men to connect, build trust and access support in ways that feel relevant and accessible.

Alongside the Fund, Movember will also launch a distinct yet complementary Community Men’s Health Research Programme, designed to build robust evidence on what works to improve outcomes for boys and young men, and to strengthen the link between community delivery, research and policy.

Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember, said:

“Almost every community has been impacted by losing men they care about too young. Thanks to our incredible supporters, Movember have been funding work going to where men are for over 20 years. This partnership will scale and learn from incredible organisations supporting men in their communities, whilst embedding care that works for men in health systems. We look forward to working together with government, health services, and our friends in the third sector to grow these partnerships and drive forward the Men’s Health Strategy for England.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting said:

“Too many men across the country are living shorter, less healthy lives – particularly those in our most disadvantaged communities. This new partnership will help men get the support they need in the places they feel most comfortable – their communities, among people they trust. By working with expert charities and local organisations, we can reach the men who are too often missed by traditional services and help them take better care of their mental and physical health. It is a key step in delivering our first ever Men’s Health Strategy and driving forward our ambition to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest areas.”

Alastair Campbell, political strategist, and mental health campaigner. Co-host of The Rest is Politics said:

“Though some may be “tired of experts” I am pleased to see the government is not among them. Genuine expertise is at the heart of this initiative from DHSC, Movember and People’s Health Trust. This kind of alliance between government, community and expert is essential if we are to meet the challenges facing so many men with regard to their mental health.”

Building community-focused care

Community matters, as men experiencing disadvantage often face poorer health outcomes, driven by factors such as social isolation, financial stress, low health literacy and limited trust in services. At the same time, community organisations across the UK are already engaging men effectively through trusted, relational and peer-based approaches embedded in everyday settings.

These models - often built around shared activities, familiar environments and consistent relationships - can help men connect, open up and access support earlier, particularly where traditional services struggle to reach them.

By investing in community-led approaches, the partnership aims not only to deliver support, but to understand what works, for whom, and how successful models can be scaled and embedded within health systems.

Programme opens for applications: Summer 2026.

First awards: Winter 2026.

Where the money goes