The South West Boys and Young Men Network
Our purpose
The South West Boys and Young Men Network is a network of professionals from organisations, both statutory and non-statutory, from across the south west of England who have an interest in work with men – especially young men and fathers, across a range of health and social issues.
The Network currently exists as a network of interested individuals involved in a work capacity with young men who recognised the value of a regional network to enhance work with young men.
The Network was originally developed as a response to work around teenage pregnancy and sexual health concerns across the south west of England; its intention is:
- To provide a focus for work with young men in the region
- To act as a forum for discussion and action
- To facilitate training on work with boys and young men
- To develop and promote good practice – local, regional, and national
- To advocate for and celebrate the achievements of boys and young men
- To encourage practice-based solutions to issues around young men’s health and social concerns.
This website reflects this intention.
A multi-agency and multidisciplinary Network
The Network has a current focus on sexual health and teenage pregnancy related concerns – its members are involved in the direction and delivery of projects working with young men on these issues, providing skills and knowledge both to the professionals who work with young men and ‘direct work’ with boys and young men themselves. The Network is also interested in work around related issues that affect young men – and hence society, including mental and emotional health issues, substance and alcohol use, and criminality and violence issues.
As a multi-agency and multidisciplinary network with a focus on the practical skills and knowledge necessary to work with young men, the South West Boys and Young Men Network believes in addressing local issues through shared regional practice and experience.
We believe that working in multidisciplinary county or area networks linked via a regional network can provide coordination and facilitation of work and training through affiliated organisations, offer guidance and practical solutions to work with boys and young men – including the ‘hard to reach’, and identification of resources and dissemination of good practice to organisations and individuals working with boys and young men across the region. The Network’s intention is also to provide a response to national strategies that concern the health of boys and young men and to remain informed by current research.
If you would like to get involved in the work of the South West Boys and Young Men Network, want to get in touch with professionals in your area able to deliver or advise on this work, or require further information please contact us! Details of contacts for your area can be found on area Network pages.
Training
Members of the South West Boys and Young Men Network may be able to facilitate training for professionals on work with boys and young men in your area, including training around masculinities and gender-sensitive approaches to work with men.
Please get in touch with your area representative for more details.