New training for boys and young men in bid to stem violence against women
A new programme rolled out across the West Midlands aims to crackdown on violence against women and girls through 'opening up conversations' with boys and young men. More than 300 professionals, including teachers and social workers, will be given specialist training to learn how to engage in 'difficult' discussions, mainly with boys aged 12 to 13 to those in their late teens.
Through working with youngsters, it's hoped they will be able to identify signs of "harmful behaviour and address misogyny." The training, facilitated by the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership (WM VRP), also aims to help young men and boys "unlearn some of the unhealthy labels that can be attached to being a man". Staff at some primary schools have also undertaken the training.
Mental health, radicalisation, substance misuse, bullying, and how to approach these topics sensitively in order to have the best impact are among the themes explored by the training. The professionals, who will be taught the new skills in groups, come from a number of different backgrounds such as education, sports and social work.
READ MORE: Homeless kids ask mum 'where will we sleep now' as family-of-six evicted from Alum Rock council home
The programme is delivered by Men At Work CIC, a Community Interest Company founded in 2019 to promote positive and constructive dialogues with boys and young men. Michael Conroy, Founder/Director of Men At Work CIC, told BirminghamLive: “It is intended as a positive and constructive support programme for all boys and young men - rather than merely an intervention for those who are displaying or have displayed concerning beliefs and behaviours.
"The ultimate hope is it can contribute to preventing the emergence of harmful beliefs and behaviours by creating space for critical thinking about the complex messages the world transmits to boys as they grow up.
"It is, of course, used also as a way in to engaging with boys in particular contexts like Youth Justice where behaviours have already been observed. Hopefully - and evidence seems to suggest - it is seen as a useful addition to the toolkit of professionals working at all stages of development and need.
"Trainees are a very wide range of professionals, some working with traditional class-size groups, others in small groups and some in a one-to- one setting, so very diverse in terms of both the facilitating professionals and the boys and young men.”
Through creating a 'safe space', it's hoped the professionals, who engage with as many as 1000 boys and young men on a regular basis, can be seen as "role models." It has been funded under the Home Office Safer Streets 5 scheme, through the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, who chairs the WM VRP Strategic Board, is backing the programme. He said: “Our boys and young men need safe spaces and trusted adults they can confide in and see as role models. It is so important that we not only support our young people but also the people that support them.
"I want to see more of these conversations happening and am pleased that we are providing our frontline workers with the support, guidance and tools needed to protect our women and girls.”
The programme will run up until March 2025.
Have you been affected by this? We would like to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing stephanie.balloo@reachplc.com