𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Britain’s boys should imitate their grandfathers if they want the best chance of enjoying a financially comfortable life when they are older, according to research by a leading think tank. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has identified a “success sequence” for a more prosperous life – and in many cases this will involve following in their grandfathers’ footsteps.

Researchers found those who completed their education, entered work, married and then had children if they choose – were “significantly more likely to say there were on a stable financial footing”. Polling of 2,100 UK adults found that men who followed the sequence were more than twice as likely to describe themselves as “living comfortably” or “doing all right” (69%) when asked about their finances – compared with just 28% of those who did not follow it.

The findings come as concern mounts about “lost boys” who face poor life chances. The CSJ says the proportion of young men not in work, education or training has “risen almost four times as quickly” as for women since 2019. The new report, Boy to Man, is backed by former Royal Marine and ex-defence minister Al Carns.

He said: “Boys need guidance. Not vague sympathy or slogans… If we want better men, we must help boys become them.”

The CSJ claims that boys who follow a lifestyle many grandparents would recognise are “dramatically more likely to enter the middle or top-income brackets and to describe themselves as having a positive financial situation”.

Men aged 25 to 34 who had completed the sequence were “almost three times as likely to report being in a positive financial position compared to those who had not” (86% vs 33%). The report’s authors also claim the sequence made a difference in women’s lives. Only one in 20 men and women aged 25 to 34 who followed the full sequence reported a household income below £21,000, “compared to one in three of those who had completed none of the sequence”.

Nearly nine (87%) of those aged 28 to 34 who had completed education, secured employment and got married” were in the middle or top third of the household income distribution”.

The CSJ says this is in line with research from the United States which found “97% of young adults who follow the full sequence avoid poverty”.

The think tank revealed earlier this year that male pensioners are now “more likely to marry than men in their early twenties”.

Luke Taylor, a senior researcher with the think tank, said: “Too much of the debate around the role of boys continues to focus on the problems. Phrases like ‘toxic masculinity’ and the ‘manosphere’ dominate public discourse, but we still fail to recognise the unique contributions and positive attributes of young men.

“At best, this leads us to misunderstand them. At worst, it leads us to demonising them.

“It creates a script for young men that is a series of ‘do nots’ rather than a positive and ambitious vision for what being a man can be. Boys need fewer lectures about restrictive behaviour and negative masculinity, and more guidance about what a good and stable life could look like.”

The CSJ is calling for the “success sequences” to be taught in schools, alongside a new “right to sport” for all secondary pupils, guaranteeing at least two hours of extracurricular sport each week.

It wants an expansion of initiatives to boost the number male mentors – including “male teachers, coaches, pastoral workers, mentors and local professionals”.

The think tank also recommends the creation of a “competitive 12‑month military service year for 18‑year‑olds as a prestigious post‑school option”.

A Government spokesperson said: “The one million young people not earning or learning is one of the defining challenges of this government. Fixing it is crucial to the prosperity of our country: we cannot afford to let a generation of young people drift away from opportunity and more fulfilled lives. We’re rewiring the whole education system, from driving the largest attendance increases in a decade to our once-in-a-generation reforms to fix the broken SEND system, and identifying risk factors earlier so we can target better interventions. This comes as we’re investing £2.5 billion to create 500,000 new jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities for young people through our Youth Guarantee – including a guaranteed job for 18-24 year olds out of work for 18 months.”