Standing for election shouldn’t depend on the size of your bank balance — but too often, it does!
By Katie McSherry
And that is why we created Fund HER! It is a way of overcoming Financial Barriers to Equal Participation in Democracy
As another round of Fund HER opens, we’re inviting women from underrepresented backgrounds to apply for small grants to help cover the personal costs of standing for election — childcare, travel, a warm coat for door knocking, a laptop for campaign planning, even the ready meals that get you through long days on the trail.
Because democracy doesn’t work if only those who can afford it get to take part.
The Hidden Cost of Democracy
Running for office takes courage, conviction — & cash!
Behind every campaign photo are very real sacrifices that rarely make the headlines.
For many women, especially those on lower incomes or from marginalised backgrounds, the financial realities of candidacy are crushing: lost income from time off work, childcare costs, travel, food, and basic essentials.
While the public often assumes candidates are well-off or funded, we’ve met women who’ve gone into debt just to stay in the race — taking out payday loans for laptops, skipping bills, or cutting back on food.
Meanwhile, women are less likely to be placed in winnable seats, meaning it can take three times as many election cycles to finally get elected. Many give up long before they make it into office.
That’s not just unfair — it’s undemocratic.
Power, Privilege and Politics
Our political system isn’t neutral - It rewards those with time and money, and punishes those without.
Working-class women, Disabled women, and Women of Colour are less likely to be selected for winnable seats, and more likely to have to self-fund campaigns that they are never expected to win.
That’s not a pipeline issue — it’s in-built exclusion.
Fund HER is one way we overcome that.
A small act of defiance that says: you deserve to be here too!
What Fund HER Does
Fund HER exists to level the ground — even just a little.
Since 2020, we’ve awarded nearly £60,000 to women standing for election, including 10 candidates in the 2024 snap General Election. These small grants help cover essentials like:
Travel: buses, trains, petrol, taxis, e-bike batteries
Care: childcare or carer costs
Equipment: laptops, webcams
Living costs: bills, groceries, food for dependents
Confidence boosts: a haircut, a pair of sturdy shoes, or a warm coat for long nights on the doorstep
When a woman receives a grant, it’s more than financial help. It’s a message to her: you belong here.
Why change matters
The Women Who Inspire Us
Every round of Fund HER reminds us why this matters.
Women who have caring responsibilities, faced disability and/ or discrimination, or financial struggle still step up to make change - fighting to improve their community, their area. Most already lead in their communities — they just need a fair chance to take it further.
Across political lines, they share the same drive: to build a better future.
What Needs to Change
The financial and time costs of candidacy are pushing women out of politics before they’ve even begun. If we want to address the predicted roll-back in gender equality in politics over the next few years, political parties must do more:
Provide bursaries for real-life costs like childcare and travel
Prioritise winnable seats for underrepresented women
Recognise that age, care, and income shape women’s ability to run
Without this, democracy will remain tilted toward those who can afford to participate.
If you’re preparing to stand for election and facing financial barriers, Fund HER may be able to help.
We prioritise women who are:
On low or no incomes
Further underrepresented in politics such as Women of Colour, Disabled women, and women who are care-experienced
Actively working for their community
Clear about the change they want to make
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Help Us Do More
And if candidacy isn’t your thing, you can help back the women who are standing, £500 changes the chances of a woman winning.
Every donation to Fund HER helps remove financial barriers for women stepping up to lead — funding travel, childcare, accessibility support, and the essentials that make campaigning possible.
Donate today: elect-her.org.uk/donate
Every time a woman stands for election, it’s an act of courage. Every time another woman helps fund her, it’s an act of solidarity. That’s what Fund HER is about.
Together, we’re building a democracy that truly represents the people it serves.
Blog idea or comment piece?
Would you like to contribute to this blog series? We’d love to hear from you. Send us your ideas and let’s chat: community@elect-her.org.uk.