Peter Wanless
Peter Wanless, chief executive of the BLF, says it is encouraging the sector to consider the needs of men when designing services
The Big Lottery Fund wants to fund projects that reach more men, after finding that it receives five times as many applications from projects targeted at women.
The BLF has also published guidance for charities to help them encourage more male beneficiaries to come forward.
A report commissioned by the BLF and written by the Young Foundation found that services targeting both genders were likely to support more women, even when dealing with issues more likely to affect men.
The report, Invisible Men: Engaging More Men in Social Projects, recommends that funders should support projects to target men specifically.
Peter Wanless, chief executive of the BLF, said: "This research acknowledges that men face very specific social issues and problems, and highlights the importance of ensuring that men can see the opportunities to access services that address their needs.
"We are encouraging the voluntary and community sector to consider the specific needs of men when designing projects or services."
A spokeswoman for the BLF said that it would encourage support for men in a number of ways, including showcasing examples of engaging men, mapping beneficiaries based on gender and carrying out more outreach work that targers organisations working with men.
