The Men and Boys Coalition is the umbrella charity for the UK’s men and boys’ sector. We are a mutually supportive network of more than 100 leading practitioners, academics, charities and advocates whose work is dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of men and boys.
While members of the coalition have expertise in diverse areas, we all understand that our issues are interlinked and inseparable, often requiring holistic solutions. For example, we recognise that problems of male homelessness cannot be fully addressed without also considering issues of men’s mental health, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, imprisonment and rehabilitation, etc.
Our goal is to strengthen and support the work of members, not to replicate or replace it.
Our Vision is for a society that values the wellbeing of men and boys.
Our Mission is to empower and support the UK men and boys’ sector by:
- Enabling the UK men’s sector to work together
- Taking action on issues that affect men and boys
- Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity
- Putting the wellbeing of men and boys on the public agenda
The Coalition will act as a vehicle to promote a year-round focus on these broad aims beyond their current focus on International Men’s Day. Issues that are of particular concern to the Coalition include (in no particular order):
- The high male suicide rate
- The challenges faced by boys and men at all stages of education including attainment
- Men’s health, shorter life expectancy and workplace deaths
- The challenges faced by the most marginalised men and boys in society (for instance, homeless men, boys in care and the high rate of male deaths in custody)
- Male victims of violence, including sexual violence
- The challenges faced by men as parents, particularly new fathers and separated fathers
- Male victims and survivors of sexual abuse, rape, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based crime, stalking and slavery
- The negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers
We will, where possible, assist members of the media to find relevant facts and research or signpost them towards professional experts on gender issues affecting men and boys.
We will, where possible, engage political and administrative leaders to ensure the voices of men and boys are heard and their needs are included in policy decisions.
The Coalition will not:
- Provide and promote solutions to individual issues affecting men and boys, that is the remit of the individual organisations and leaders themselves
- Accept or work with organisations or individuals who are anti-women/girls and/or advocate removing resources from women/girls
- Accept or work with organisations or individuals who express misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, racism or any other form of bigotry or discrimination
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Policy statement on diversity of opinion and social media use
The Men and Boys’ Coalition brings together charities, campaigners and academics from across the UK men’s sector. Our goal is to provide a stronger collective voice for our members in media presentation, lobbying and advocacy.
As described above, the Coalition shares:
- An active involvement in supporting and campaigning on issues affecting men and boys
- A commitment to not accept or work with organisations or individuals who are anti-women/girls and/or advocate removing resources from women/girls
- A commitment to not accept or work with organisations or individuals who express misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, racism or any other form of bigotry or discrimination
Beyond this, our members can and of course do express a vast range of diverse opinions. This includes a range of opinions and approaches to our work on male gender issues which vary widely in ideology, theoretical bases and practical approaches.
Inevitably our members also have widely diverse opinions on political and social issues, whether on issues of gender politics or the broader left-right political spectrum.
The Men and Boys Coalition seeks to support and amplify the work of our members, where those are relevant to our shared concerns. We do not endorse or represent individual opinions or ideological positions of any of our members and as a result we may at times promote views and opinions which contradict each other. We consider this a feature of our work, not a bug.
Many of our members hold roles in the media, either as full-time journalists, writers and broadcasters, or as spokespersons for their campaigns. Most of our members have their own social media presence, either as individuals or organisations. The Men and Boys Coalition does not endorse the media output of any of our members, and such output should never be taken to represent the stance of the Coalition.
Similarly, the Coalition does not monitor, police or attempt to influence the opinions of our members as expressed in any form of media or communications.
Where individuals are representing the Coalition by name, in public or media appearances, we trust and expect those representatives to present the broad consensus of opinions and positions within our membership.
If you have any questions or concerns about our policy in this area, please email the Board via:
info@menandboyscoalition.org.uk
Policy statement agreed by the Men and Boys’ Coalition Steering Group, March 2019
The Men and Boys Coalition is a registered charity (CIO) No. 1183014
Address: c/o ManKind Initiative, Flook House, Belvedere Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1BT