University of Portsmouth surpasses £100,000 milestone in Movember fundraising for men's health

Staff and students at the University of Portsmouth have raised more than £100,000 for the Movember Foundation over the past decade, funding critical research and support programmes for men's health issues. 

The remarkable achievement represents a significant contribution to the global campaign that has funded over 1,250 health projects worldwide since 2003, challenging outdated perceptions and transforming the way health services support men.  

Paul Tilley, Director of Sport and Recreation at the University of Portsmouth, said: “This incredible milestone is a testament to the passion and dedication of our entire University community. This achievement reflects our values as a civic university. We're not just educating the next generation, we're actively working to create positive change, both locally in Portsmouth and Hampshire, and further afield.” 

Research by the National Union of Students (NUS) shows that male students are less likely to seek help for mental health problems than female student. While a 2024 Movember report found that men in the UK are significantly more likely than women to engage in high-risk health behaviours and face elevated risks of death from substance abuse, self-harm, and transport injuries. 

Movember-funded initiatives include 'Gamers vs Depression', a UK-based project using the online gaming community to improve mental health literacy in teenage boys, 'Ahead of the Game', a community sport-based mental health programme for cancer patients and their supporters, and significant prostate cancer research at King's College London. 

This year, around 500 staff and students at the University are aiming to raise £18,000, with the current total standing at around £6,700. Top club fundraisers include Volleyball, Climbing, and Tennis, while individual fundraisers Jonah Davidson, Macy Brown Standing, and Alex Harris are leading the charge. 

Bryn Jones, Sports Marketing and Communications Manager at the University of Portsmouth said “Movember is so important to many of our students which goes much further than the MO’s that the charity is synonymous for. It’s an important subject to raise awareness of and using Ravelin Sports Centre as a catalyst for encouraging movement is now part of what we do during Movember.  

“It’s a fabulous achievement to raise over £100k over the last 10 years. If our work encourages a person to seek help, to reach out to someone over text who has gone off the radar or to move a little more to improve their mental health then it’s all worth it.” 

One of the more impressive and successful challenges over the last 10 years came from the University of Portsmouth Climbing Club who devised an annual challenge to climb the distance of Mount Everest. The club invites people to climb the wall at Ravelin Sports Centre, scaling over 22,000 metres in just over six hours.  

The Movember achievement is the latest in an impressive series of fundraising successes that demonstrate the University's strong fundraising efforts. 

In May, the annual Students vs Staff charity football match at Fratton Park raised almost £12,000 for Pompey in the Community and the Portsmouth Futures Fund. The match attracted over 500 spectators to Portsmouth Football Club's home ground. Overall, in 2024/25 more than £57,000 was raised for different charities, including Movember. 

This year the University also celebrated outstanding student contributions at the Student Impact Awards, recognising 14 students and alumni for their work with community projects and external organisations. The awards, presented in partnership with the Students' Union, honoured initiatives ranging from mental health advocacy and environmental sustainability to international engagement and entrepreneurship. 

Professor Graham Galbraith CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, said: “Our students and staff consistently demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to making a positive difference. Whether it's raising vital funds for men's health through Movember, supporting local charities through our partnership with Portsmouth Football Club, or the countless volunteer hours our students contribute across Portsmouth and Hampshire, we're proud to be a university that puts community at the heart of everything we do.” 

For those wishing to support the University's current Movember campaign, donations can be made through the University's fundraising page. The campaign continues through to the end of November, with several fundraising events planned for the coming weeks.