Positive Masculinities: A New Intervention to Support Boys in Year 7 and 8
We’ve had something in the pipeline for a little while and we are so excited to share it with you!
We are piloting a brand new programme called Positive Masculinities. A 12 week programme aimed at Year 7 and 8 that supports better self-expression, improved wellbeing vocabulary and self-regulation skills for boys.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Story Project programme without books and this one is no exception! Each session is linked to a young adult fiction novel, where students read an extract and use it to explore the key themes. In doing so, students don’t have to talk about their own experiences – something which can feel raw and difficult for many teens – but can discuss the issue through the eyes of the characters.
The session then allows for a reflection on participants own thoughts, behaviours and ideas so they can apply the learning to themselves.
This is vital for so many of our young boys in schools across the country. Many are struggling with their identity, an issue that has worsened with social media, and many are struggling to engage with reading. We know that children who engage with literacy are three times more likely to have better mental health; and this is the core of The Story Project’s ethos. Tackle reading and wellbeing simultaneously and it results in incredibly impact academically, socially and emotionally.
We are thrilled to be working alongside Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Regional Boys’ Impact Hub and 10 wonderful secondary schools in the region to pilot the programme over the next few months.
Yesterday we met the staff in person at a introduction and training session at the University of Derby. There was a wonderful mix of staff in the room, from Pastoral Leads to Assistant Heads and lots of English Teachers!
They all taught or worked in different departments, but one thing was common amongst us all – boys in schools really need our help. And they need it now. Social media is pulling them, rapidly and dangerously, into algorithms that show a warped view of what it means to be a man. These aren’t shady corners of the internet anymore, it is wide spread and readily available. This is exacerbated by increasingly extreme political movements. Throw into the mix the fact that more and more families are living in poverty, that white working class boys have underperformed their non-working class peers for many years, and that reading levels for boys in lower socio-economic areas are the lowest across the UK and you can begin to build a picture of why so many of our male students are struggling.
What is fantastic to see though is the passion and commitment that teachers have for supporting their students. This was evident yesterday and we are so excited to see what the next few months bring. The situation feels heavy but there is so much support around, and while our work is far from done, there is an exciting momentum towards improving the situation for boys.
Plus, we also got to meet our newest member of the team for the first time in real life rather than on Teams! Welcome to Lydia, who will be supporting our secondary and positive masculinities programme.
What is included in the Positive Masculinities programme?
The Story Project Positive Masculinity programme includes 12 sessions which come fully resourced and planned. Each session is linked to an extract from a young adult fiction novel. The sessions guide students through discussion questions, activities and reflections to provide a safe space to explore themes such as body image, identity, emotions, friendships and more.
What does Positive Masculinities mean?
Positive Masculinity means looking at what it means to be a man through a positive lens. It means celebrating healthy attitudes and behaviours and promoting empathy, respect and emotional intelligence. It sits in contrasts with toxic masculinity.
What is The Story Project?
The Story Project is a social enterprise that supports wellbeing and literacy in schools. Our curriculums are book-led and designed by teachers.
