Funded Programmes

The Movember Foundation’s key programme in men’s health is our Awareness & Education piece.

So, what is it achieving exactly? In short, it’s educating and empowering men when it comes to their health.

Movember started with a conversation between mates and it’s a conversation that remains integral to how the Movember Foundation is changing the face of men’s health.

Today, it is just many more conversations. When you count the online and in person chat that takes place each Movember, it’s literally billions of conversations. These conversations transcend a casual discussion about moustache growth into serious conversations about men’s health.

But is all this talk actually making a difference? This is a question that the Movember Foundation is constantly asking itself and answers through an annual, independent survey of past participants.

Encouragingly, the results show the answer is without doubt; yes, we are making a difference. Each member of the Mo community is making a difference through the awareness they spread during their personal Movember journey.

It is the Mo Bros themselves that become men’s health advocates and are literally walking/talking billboards for 30 days. The Movember campaign provides the platform, by way of the website, and tools for them to participate, but it is the individuals that bring the campaign to life by making it their own and communicating our men’s health messages in a way that is meaningful to them, their family and peers. This authentic communication from someone known and trusted has high impact. This is where the effectiveness of our Awareness & Education programme lies.

The research confirms that the Movember campaign is having a positive impact on getting men engaged and thinking about their health and taking preventative action. Compared to the general population, Movember participants spend more time thinking about improving their health, visiting a doctor or discussing their health with others.

The research shows that Movember is speaking to an engaged and highly influential group and as a result has a significant impact on health related behaviours of its participants.

Key global research findings:

• 99% of participants talked to someone about their health
• 75% became more aware of the health issues they face
• 62% had seen or were intending to see a medical professional to get their key personal numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, waistline, weight)
• 50% told someone they should take action to improve their health
• 75% said they were more likely to tell someone they knew to seek professional health if they thought it needed
• 1.7 billion conversations were had

Evidence clearly highlights that there’s a long way to go until men achieve the optimum level of health. Progress is being made but the issue of tackling the inequality between men and women’s health is a complex one and will take time. However, a unanimously agreed upon point is that better educating men on the risks they face and empowering them with the information and know-how to proactively look after their health, is a vital piece of the puzzle.

We seek to do our part through our annual Awareness & Education campaign. We’re aiming to increase the understanding of the health risks that men face and encourage them to act on that knowledge.

Awareness & Education alters behaviour and mind-sets; it gradually breaks down barriers, removes stigmas and brings about real change. We want men to take responsibility for their health, prevent illness by leading a healthy lifestyle and understand the symptoms and signs in both themselves and others so they can appreciate when and how to seek help if needed.

Movember Foundation’s Awareness & Education programmes is brought to life through a number of channels:

• Our business and community outreach programme
• The development of a new campaign creative each year – keeping it fresh and engaging
• Website – providing men with the tools to raise awareness and funds
• Free awareness and education collateral – men’s health booklets and posters are available on request
• Media exposure – we’re lucky enough to secure high volumes of free editorial across all markets and are generously donated free ad spaces during October and November (we don’t pay for advertising)
• Social media – through our own social platforms and those of the Mo community millions of online conversations are generated
• Events and activations – both official Movember events and those held by the Movember community allow those participating and donating to experience and feel a part of the Movember movement
• Ambassador programme – helping us to spread our men’s health messages

“In the last 10 years or so, using an online platform as our community hub, we’ve built the largest global men’s health movement off the back of the simple act of growing a moustache and a sense of fun and mateship. It’s these ingredients that have encouraged over 4 million men to sign up at Movember.com and do their bit for men’s health by raising awareness and funds.”

Often it is funds raised by a charity that are remembered but equally critical is the awareness generated. It is awareness that educates and prompts people to change behaviour and take action; it is awareness that can ultimately save lives.

For more information see our Men’s Health Report Cards.

Footnote: Video results are taken from the Movember 2014 global survey conducted by IMI international, an independent research organisation.