Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys

🎙️ “The boys who look the toughest are often the ones who are hurting the most” On this week’s podcast, Shuab Gamote is joined by Sam Squire, CEO of Inspire 2 Ignite CIC, as he reflects on his journey from achieving his childhood dream of becoming a professional footballer at 18 to losing that dream just a year later. Sam shares how he rebuilt his sense of purpose and highlights the importance of positive role models and why giving young people the right opportunities, support and belief can transform their lives. Tune in this Wednesday for an honest and real account of how young people and boys can navigate setbacks to realise their full potential. 🎧 Subscribe to Boy Talk here Apple: https://lnkd.in/eVKSgfWu Spotify: https://lnkd.in/espqHHCd YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e_9r8C9p An independent commission hosted by the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys (CPRMB). For more info: https://lnkd.in/dbAq8T2i #BoyTalk #BoysEducationCommission #BoysEducation #SocialMedia #OnlineInfluence #Masculinity #CPRMB

⚠️ Trigger warning: This post discusses suicide. 🔹 Middle-aged men face significantly higher suicide rates following divorce and relationship breakdown. New analysis from the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys (CPRMB) highlights concerning trends in male suicide across England and Wales, with particular risks for middle-aged men who are single, divorced or widowed. In his latest research snapshot, Mark Brooks OBE, Director of Policy at CPRMB, examines new figures from the Office for National Statistics(ONS). Key findings include: 🔹 Suicide rates among middle-aged men (45–64) are now at their highest level since records began in 1981. 🔹 75% of all suicides continue to be male. 🔹 Suicide rates for married middle-aged men are three to four times lower than those middle-aged men who are single, divorced or widowed. This strongly suggests marriage seems to be a protective factor against male suicide. The findings highlight the importance of recognising the challenges men can face following relationship breakdown, divorce and bereavement, and ensuring appropriate support is available. 👉 Read the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/eSXk2vGn If you or someone you know is struggling, Samaritans are there to listen, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 116 123 for free or visit https://www.samaritans.org

🎧 Andrew Tate. MrBeast. Jordan Peterson. Who is really shaping the way young men think? The online world is constantly evolving, and so are the influencers capturing the attention of boys and young men. If you haven't yet listened to the latest episode of Boy Talk, the Boys' Education Commission podcast, Chair Peter Hyman's conversation with Commissioner Shuab Gamote is one not to miss. Shuab explores why Andrew Tate may no longer have the hold he once did, but warns that a new generation of influencers has learnt from his approach and some may pose even greater risks. He unpacks the MrBeast playbook, discusses Jordan Peterson and other influential online figures, and explains the difference between harmful, hyper and healthy content. But perhaps most importantly, he asks why we aren't having more meaningful conversations in schools about the online world boys are growing up in. If we don't help young men understand what they're consuming online, who will? 🎧 Listen to the full episode of Boy Talk here: https://tr.ee/EQaw92cF5l ▶️ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/euSRRMhC An independent commission hosted by the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys (CPRMB). For more info: https://lnkd.in/dbAq8T2i #BoyTalk #BoysEducationCommission #BoysEducation #SocialMedia #OnlineInfluence #Masculinity #CPRMB Chair: Peter Hyman Commissioners: Caroline Barlow Dr Alex Blower Jeffrey Boakye Polly Curtis Ed Fidoe Shuab Gamote Jo Heaton OBE Sana Khareghani Dr. Sophie King-Hill Bill Lucas Stuart Manifould Ian Pryce CBE Richard V. Reeves Luke Tryl

New report shows over 5,000 boys (80% of total) are reported as victims of child trafficking An area of exploitation that hardly receives any policy traction or recognition is the trafficking of boys into criminal activity, sexual exploitation, labour and other forms of abuse. The figures revealed in a vitally important report by the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and ECPAT UK called Child Trafficking in the UK a Snapshot: 2026" showed that: Of the 7,045 children referred in 2025, 5,655 (80%) were male and 1,390 (20%) were female. More than one third are not UK nationals and the report recognises potential underreporting risks for girls. Sextortion was recognised by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as an avenue as last year. It launched a campaign focused on financially motivated sexual extortion targeting teenage boys following evidence of low awareness of the risks and routes to reporting. The report makes a range of positive recommendations including asking the Government for a cross-government child exploitation strategy which we support alongside the need for it for to "address exploitation in online environments". It is clear that this another under recognised area of online harms affecting young men and boys. This is why we are researching this specific and particular area and its impact. Read the report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eTaPaVD3

Really honoured we have been asked to speak at this Global Action on Men's Health on the men's health strategy for England - with such esteemed panellists. Please do sign up! 👇

🗣️ Yesterday, Mark Brooks OBE, our Director of Policy, was a speaker at ‘Countering Online Misogyny’ at the Houses of Parliament. Led by Lord Iain McNicol, the joint event of the APPG on Political and Media Literacy and the APPG on Men and Boys’ Issues brought together speakers to consider how we can counter online misogyny and protect boys from harmful online influences. Also speaking were: 🔹 Jess Asato MP 🔹 Matteo Bergamini MBE and Amelia Fairney, authors of ‘Man Enough: How to Protect Boys from Online Misogyny’ 🔹 Alex Murray, Head of Advocacy, and Eline Yara Jeanné, Senior Research and Insights Manager, at the Conscious Advertising Network CPRMB is proud to serve as the Secretariat to the APPG on Men and Boys’ Issues. For any enquiries about the Inquiry or the APPG’s wider work, please get in touch.

🗣️ How can we create more positive conversations about men and boys’ mental health and wellbeing? On Friday, CPRMB’s Director of Policy, Mark Brooks OBE, joined George H. (The Tin Men), Ian Tucknott (Head of School) and Lisa Britton at the Mental Wealth Festival at City Lit for “Caring for Men & Boys: Men’s Mental Health & Wellbeing”. The thought-provoking conversation explored the evidence, challenges and opportunities shaping men’s and boys’ mental health today, covering: 🔹 Male identity and societal pressures 🔹 Employment and its relationship with purpose and wellbeing 🔹 Online harms and their impact on men and boys 🔹 The need for more positive conversations about the contribution men and boys make Conversations like these are important in building understanding and keeping men’s and boys’ mental health and wellbeing on the agenda. #MentalWealthConversation #CPRMB #MenAndBoys

🌍 A global conversation needs a global platform. Richard V. Reeves and Scott Galloway will anchor the keynote programme at Manifest, the inaugural Global Summit for Men and Boys. Taking place at the QEII Centre in Westminster on Thursday 17th June 2027, Manifest will bring together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, grass-roots organisations and funders working to improve outcomes for men and boys. The summit is launched by the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys (CPRMB) in partnership with the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM). Nick Isles, Director, Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys, said, "The people working with men and boys in this country and elsewhere do serious work, largely on their own and without sufficient sight of one another. Manifest, delivered with our partners at the American Institute for Boys and Men, is the sector's first shared global platform." Richard V. Reeves, President of the American Institute for Boys and Men, said, "The evidence on outcomes for boys and men, in education, mental health and early mortality, is now clear enough on both sides of the Atlantic that the argument has moved from whether to what. Manifest brings the people best placed to answer that question together. AIBM is a partner in it because the work is transatlantic and international and the fields on either side need to move in parallel." Further speakers from across the sector will be announced in the coming weeks. 🎟️ Places are open at Super Early Booking rates, held for the first 100 seats. 👉 Book your place and find out more: www.manifest-event.com #Manifest2027 #MenAndBoys

🎥 Catch up on two recent CPRMB webinars, now available to watch on YouTube. 🔹 Democratic engagement and voting at 16 - young male perspectives Dr Christopher Pich, Associate Professor in Marketing at University of Nottingham, shares findings from the UK-wide study Young People’s Futures and Democratic Life: Votes at 16. Drawing on research involving more than 700 young people aged 14-16 and 120 schools and colleges across all four UK nations, the webinar explores attitudes towards voting at 16, barriers to democratic participation and how young people, particularly young men, can be supported to make informed decisions as first-time voters. 👉 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/esrVfrG7 🔹 Part II of the International Review on Boys’ Education Outcomes across OECD countries CPRMB Research Fellow, Jordan Hill, a former Education Policy Analyst at the OECD Directorate for Education and Skills, presents the second of three reports from CPRMB’s landmark review of international evidence on boys’ education. Jordan explores why attainment among 15-year-olds has declined across OECD countries, why boys make up the majority of low achievers, how socioeconomic status shapes academic performance and why gender attainment gaps widen as children progress through school. The final report in the series will set out recommendations for policymakers on how these gaps can be closed, supporting boys without being to the detriment of girls. 👉 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eGkfdpCb #BoysEducation #VotingAt16 #DemocraticEngagement #EducationPolicy #MensIssues