Two of the most telling statistics to emerge from our research in 2010 is the fact that while a poor boy in our city will die on average THIRTEEN YEARS earlier than a rich girl, women’s projects in the city receive nearly THIRTEEN HUNDRED times more funding than men’s projects.
Furthermore, research by the Council has also revealed that funding to community projects are 50% more likely to benefit women than men.
In the past year the Men’s Network has had funding bids that were described as excellent by the funding body rejected on the grounds that everyone but ‘men’ are a priority group.
This list usually includes women, children and young people, people with disabilities, people with learning disabilities, people with mental health problems, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender, carers and Black Minority and Ethnic groups – but not men.
Funding men and men’s groups more effectively in the future could have a number of postive impacts:
- If we funded more men’s projects it would be easier to involve men in public services
- If we funded more men’s projects it would be easier to help men access public services
- If we funded more men’s projects it would be easier to understand and address the barriers that men face to accessing public services
- If we funded more men’s projects we would be in a stronger position to improve outcomes for men
- If we funded more men’s projects there would be more men working and volunteering to help and support men
- If we funded more men’s projects we’d be in a stronger position to work with men to provide better services
Funding men’s projects does not have to mean taking funding away from any other group, it can simply mean make better use of existing funding that is allocated generically to men and women and using some of that funding to specifically shape services to Men and Boys.
In 2011 as well as seeking greater funding for The Men’s Network we will be working hard to encourage City Leaders of the benefits of focusing existing funding more effectively to meet the specific needs of men and boys.
Glen Poole is UK co-ordinator for International Men's Day, Director at the consultancy Helping Men and news editor of insideMAN magazine. Follow him on twitter @HelpingMen or find out more about his work at www.helpingmen.co.uk.
Men's News From Brighton & Hove, England 
[…] FUNDING MEN AND BOYS: In March 2010 NHS Brighton & Hove published research that revealed that women’s projects in the city received nearly THIRTEEN HUNDRED times more funding than men’s projects. Research by the Council has also revealed that funding to community projects are 50% more likely to benefit women than men. Read more about Funding Men and Boys projects here…. […]
[…] In our City of Brighton & Hove in England, boys from the poorest neighbourhoods die THIRTEEN YEARS SOONER than girls from the richest areas and yet women’s projects still receive THIRTEEN TIMES MORE FUNDING THAN MEN’S PROJECTS […]
[…] In our City of Brighton & Hove in England, boys from the poorest neighbourhoods die THIRTEEN YEARS SOONER than girls from the richest areas and yet women’s projects still receive THIRTEEN TIMES MORE FUNDING THAN MEN’S PROJECTS […]
[…] FUNDING MEN AND BOYS by putting money into services and projects that target en and boys as a distinct group […]
I feel you buddies. We’re experiencing the same challenge here. Am working with a boys organization, Boys’ Essence Organization, and for the past 4 years that we have been operating, no government organ has been concerned with the cause we’re addressing.