Announced in spring 2026, the new £6.3 million Men’s Health Community Fund aims to support community-led projects that improve men’s health and reduce inequalities, particularly among those least likely to engage with traditional health services.
The scheme sits within the UK Government’s Men’s Health Strategy for England and has been developed as a partnership between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Movember, and People’s Health Trust (PHT).
This funding opportunity consists of the following three funds which have different levels of grants and different application windows:
- DHSC is committing up to £3 million with grants of between £75,000 and £125,000 each to support programmes for two groups:
- Men aged 35–59 who are unemployed, economically inactive or facing economic precarity.
- Older men (60+) experiencing key life transitions (eg, retirement, bereavement, relationship breakdown, caring responsibilities etc.).
- Movember is committing £3 million with up to 15 grants of between £150,000 and £300,000 each of up to three years for programmes for young men aged 16–35, with a focus on community-based approaches that strengthen social connection and encourage men to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing – seeking help when needed.
- People’s Health Trust is committing £300,000+ to support programmes for men working in industry. The Trust anticipates its fundraising will increase the amount to £1.25 million.
Applications will be accepted from community voluntary sector organisations (VCSEs) in England that are already doing meaningful work with men and who want to strengthen, develop and share learning about what makes that work effective.
This opportunity would be particularly relevant for organisations that:
- Have established trusted relationships and meaningful connections with specific communities of men and are embedded within those communities.
- Have specific expertise in designing and delivering work for men, rather than general community provision.
- Use insight, evidence, practitioner knowledge and lived experience to shape and improve their work, including learning from previous delivery and engagement with the communities they serve.
- Have a strong understanding of the wider inequalities affecting men’s health and wellbeing, including the role of poverty, exclusion, discrimination and gender norms in shaping health outcomes.
- Are open to learning, collaboration and reflective practice, including working alongside researchers, evaluators and peer organisations to strengthen understanding of what works and why in the sector.
Funding rounds will open at different times across the partners. There is a two stage application process.
Applications for the People’s Health Trust funding will launch separately later in the year, with its own application process.
DHSC and Movember are currently accepting Expressions of Interest with a deadline of 15 July 2026 (17:00).
