Developing a Boys and Young Men Network
Developing a boys and young men network: (Gloucestershire model - 2000s)
In Gloucestershire, a boys and young men network developed in the 2000s through the initiative of workers in the then extant Health Promotion department and county Youth Service who were committed to greater facilitation of work with young malesvia the benefits networking opportunities offered. Impetus, funding and hosting for the network was provided via Teenage Pregnancy strategy-based funding and other areas where boys and men’s issues were a cause for action, e.g. mental health and fatherhood.
Outputs included development of a county action plan for work with young men, direct work with young men following established guidance, innovative direct work with males, male-specific resource development, training, workshops and conferences, regular newsletters, a web portal providing a focal point for work, and network representatives/champions able to act as spokespeople to the media and to raise the profile of work with young men.
Given that a number of then higher profile public organisations and smaller community agencies were involved in developing and maintaining what became known as the Gloucestershire Boys and Young Men Network (GBYMN), an understanding of what different organisations can bring to the work, and that no one organisation has ‘ownership’ of the work, is a prerequisite to the creation of an atmosphere conducive to partnership working.
The following points are provided as guidelines for workers considering developing their own network.
- Identify individuals in organisations that work with young men, who have experience of, or are interested in, the potential of interagency working. Open this to workers from both statutory and non-statutory organisations.
- Establish a core group of workers from organisations who work with boys and young men. Identify a key worker or workers to represent each organisation; workers should be enabled by their organisation to develop and deliver male-specific work .
- The Gloucestershire Network evolved from an initial ‘talking shop’. Points of discussion were;
- What form did we want the Network to take?
- What could individuals/organisations bring to the Network?
- What did we want to achieve as a Network?
- What could we achieve as a Network?
- What benefit would the Network bring to young men?
- How could we achieve any set aims?
- What was currently provided for young men in our locality?
- Who was doing the work?
- Who was able to do the work?
- At what ‘level’ could representatives work?
- Who could we identify as potential partners?
- Who could provide funding for projects?
- A core group ‘talking shop’ is a necessary precursor to the establishment of a network. There are differences in the way organisations work. Initiatives that may be of high importance for one may not be for another. Input from one organisation may not be as high as another’s, however committed a representative may be. Perception of the capabilities of member organisations may assist in overcoming any initial frustration that network projects sometimes do not develop as planned.
- Let people know who you are! In Gloucestershire we began with a workshop open to individuals from organisations working with young men in the county. This raised the initial profile of the Network as a multi-agency body, gave the Network an idea of the level of interest in the work we were involved in and attracted interest in the Network from other organisations who wanted to get involved.
- Draw up aims and objectives. Develop a strategy or action plan to show how the work is going to develop, and how it complements existing local and national strategies. This may assist in attracting funding for projects.
- Develop a support base: meetings, newsletters, a website. Let people know what is happening, keep your network and boys and young men work on the agenda of affiliated organisations.
- Maintain awareness of what is happening on a local, regional and national level. Develop working partnerships or representation with initiatives that your network can contribute to and enhances your network.
Edited text taken from an article The Gloucestershire Boys and Young Men Network originally appearing in the journal WYM – working with young men, May 2003, Vol 2, No 2.pp 18 – 23.