𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Men have been urged to “step up” and volunteer for sports and youth clubs, in order to tackle a shortage of role models for boys. A lack of male role models is creating a generation of unhappy boys and driving interest in the so-called “manosphere”, where misogynistic material is available on the internet, according to a new report by think tank the Centre for Social Justice.

The findings were backed by businessman John Roberts, founder and chief executive of online retail giant AO World. He said: “A consistent message from organisations was how difficult it is to get people involved: as coaches, mentors and volunteers. Polling found just one in 20 men over age 45 are currently involved in any sports club, dropping considerably lower in some parts of the country.”

Mr Roberts said: “This report is a clarion call for more men to get involved to provide the roles models thousands of lost boys and young men are desperately crying out for.”

The study found a sharp decline in well-being among boys, with only one in four aged 10 to 15 saying they were “completely happy” with life compared with one in three 15 years ago.

A consultation with 100 small charities working with young people highlighted the importance of male role models. The report said: “They drew our attention to unique issues boys in a modern world face, including a crisis of masculinity and the difficulty with which young boys and men have defining the values by which they wish to live.

“They also pointed to the challenge of fatherlessness and the resulting lack of role models in their lives. Indeed, more young boys grow up with a smartphone than a father figure in the home.

“Failing to take part in outdoor activities where boys experience growth – inducing setbacks and learn key skills, such as emotional resilience, from the organic role models around them, only serves to compound this challenge.”

The report also said that youth services have been depleted in recent years, with one thousand fewer youth clubs today than there were 15 years ago, and the number of youth workers has fallen by over one third to just 1,662.

Edward Davies, Director of Research at the Centre for Social Justice, said: “All the current concern around malign online influences and the manosphere rings hollow if we do not offer an alternative. Boys need a roadmap to becoming a man and if they don’t see it in their lives we cannot be surprised if they look elsewhere.”