A film project challenging Manosphere attitudes is one of 27 good causes set to benefit from a share of a £100,000 funding pot set up by Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth.
With documentary film maker Louis Theroux’s latest programme making the headlines for exposing online manosphere influencers and their misogynistic and harmful beliefs, a new film project by The Young Women’s Film Academy (YWFA) couldn’t have come at a better time to give young women a voice on the topic.
The YWFA is known for supporting young women and girls to creatively explore concerns, anxieties and issues that are important to them. Funding from the Commissioner’s Community Fund will be used towards a ‘Stories of the Manosphere’ documentary-drama – guided by professional female film makers exploring the lived experiences of girls and women who have suffered misogyny and abuse. It will then be used to educate young people, parents and the professionals on the subject.
The project is a strong fit with the Fund’s aim of supporting organisations and grassroot projects that want to help towards delivering the Police and Crime Commissioner’s plan for safer streets and stronger communities – supporting organisations striving to make where they live a better place.
This project is just one of a range of organisations delivering social action projects, targeted youth work and community cohesion initiatives that are set to benefit from the Commissioner’s Community Fund.
Other beneficiaries include: Prudhoe Youth Project (Northumberland), Springwell Community Village Venue (Gateshead), Al Azhar Mosque (South Tyneside), North Tyneside Disability Forum (North Tyneside) and Parker Trust CIO (Sunderland).
A total pot of £114,820 is being shared between these groups and other successful applicants from across the Northumbria Police Force area. Some of the money used to create this fund has been recovered by police under the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA) – ensuring that money taken from criminals is reinvested into the communities it once harmed.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “This fund is about giving people positive opportunities, which in turn can deliver a positive impact on the local community. We were inundated with bids this year and I am thankful that Northumbria has so many fantastic organisations, led by brilliant people wanting to achieve great things in their local area.
“The Young Women’s Film Academy was certainly one of several stand-out bids. We know misogyny is at the root of all violence against women and girls and influencers like those in the Louis Theroux documentary are undoubtedly having a really worrying impact on young men and boys’ attitudes to women and relationships.
“While many, including myself, welcome this documentary for shining a light on an important issue – the documentary seems to lack how this manosphere culture actively affects women – many have commented on the limited female contributions.
“And so here we are with a project idea aiming to do just that – explore real life experiences and give women a voice in all this manosphere chat and I can’t wait to see the film and make sure they get heard.”
Clara Shield, Founder & CEO, YWFA, said: We are delighted to have received this funding which will enable us to create a film and educational resource, that shares the lived experiences of the girls and young women we work with, telling the stories that audiences are not hearing. We know the importance of raising this issue with boys, young men and wider society, however this should never be to the detriment or the silencing of women and girls. They are the victims. Our film project will provide a platform to do justice to their stories, handled with care and compassion.
This year, the Commissioner’s Community Fund applications were managed Community Foundation North East. Community Foundation North East is a charity that has guided effective giving across the region since 1988, to help to build a thriving, generous, and inclusive North East today and for generations to come
Pete Barrett, Senior Programme Advisor at Community Foundation North East, said: “The Police Crime Commissioner’s Community Fund demonstrates the strength of partnership working in addressing complex social challenges and supporting safer, more resilient communities. Community Foundation North East is pleased to have managed this programme on behalf of the Police and Crime Commissioner, ensuring funding reaches grassroots organisations that are creating safe, inclusive spaces and delivering meaningful change at a local level. Projects such as the Young Women’s Film Academy highlight the importance of empowering voices that are too often unheard, while equipping communities with the awareness and tools needed to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours.”
A full list of projects funded by this round of the Commissioner’s Community Fund can be found HERE.
