Chair’s Welcome Address
David Devenney, Development Manager, Fathers Network Scotland

Interactive session: Making it better for boys…

• Pivotal points of development
• Why ‘physical first’ really is the key to learning especially for boys
• Balancing ‘Developmentally Appropriate Practice’ with the challenges and expectations placed upon early years, educators, teachers and parents

Ali McClure, Author, Teacher Trainer and Consultant, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and Training Director for NEYTCO (National Early Years Trainers and Consultants)

Boys, Mental Health and Supporting Each Other

• Mental health is part of everyone’s day to day life but there is still a stigma around it. To tackle this properly people need to understand that it is okay not to be okay and you can talk about it
• Boys are not encouraged to speak about how they are feeling. If someone is struggling with their mental health they can try and hide it, which can make a problem worse
• The latest figures on suicides in Scotland show that men are still two and a half times more likely than women to take their own life (672 suicides total)
• If you’re worried about someone, you don’t have to be an expert, just asking someone if they are okay and really listening can be a powerful thing

Laura Sharpe, Education and Young People’s Manager, See Me

Where are all the boys? Identifying and responding to male victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE)

• Develop a greater understanding of CSE and how this impacts on boys and young men
• Recognise the additional vulnerabilities to CSE for boys and men
• Consider the benefits and barriers to working with boys and young men at risk of CSE

Daljeet Dagon, Barnardo’s Scotland National Programme Manager for Child Sexual Exploitation and Children’s Services Manager, PACe and Safer Choices

Interactive session: A need to invite, not indict

• Most boys see the harm in the behaviours of some of their peers but still remain silent. Why is that?
• Young people are exploring their sex, sexuality and gender in a sexually toxic environment
• We need a positive approach to invite boys into a conversation. Indicting them will not work, it never has

Graham Goulden, Director, Cultivating Minds UK

Young men, masculinity and role models

• Many ‘at risk’ young men have had difficult relationships with their fathers, and more supportive relationships with their mothers and other female relatives
• Young men who are ‘at risk’ are often caught up in local cultures of ‘hypermasculinity’ which are damaging to themselves and others
• Young men with troubled histories need relationships of care, consistency and commitment to help them make the transition to more positive masculine identities

Dr Martin Robb, Senior Lecturer, School of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, The Open University

Interactive session: Is pornography poisoning our boys?

• Is it true that online pornography is “corrupting an entire generation?”
• A look at the scientific evidence behind the media and political hysteria, plus Martin shares intimate experience of working with young addicts
• The unique role of men, and especially dads, in helping form a new moral template for healthy boys

Martin Daubney, Award-winning Editor, Journalist, Broadcaster and Co-founder of The Men & Boys Coalition

Panel and audience discussion – Making the future a positive place for boys
An open and interactive forum to discuss what has been raised throughout the day. What lessons can we take forward into our work or home life to ensure boys have the best environment and confidence to grow?

Featuring:

• Tam Baillie, Speaker, trainer and consultant
• Ali McClure, Author, Teacher Trainer and Consultant
• Graham Goulden, Director, Cultivating Minds UK
• Dr Martin Robb, Senior Lecturer, School of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, The Open University
• Martin Daubney, Award-winning Editor, Journalist, Broadcaster and Co-founder of The Men & Boys Coalition
• Douglas Guest, National Lead, Scotland for Mankind project

Graham Goulden, Director, Cultivating Minds UK
@Graham_vru
Graham Goulden, BA, is an experienced and committed violence prevention trainer. For thirty year’s he was a Scottish police officer and Chief Investigator specialising in criminal investigation, drug investigation, training and crime prevention. For the last eight years of his policing career he was a key member of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (www.actiononviolence.org.uk).

In 2010 Graham introduced The Mentors in Violence Prevention Programme (MVP) into high schools across Scotland, successfully handing over the overall lead to Education Scotland in 2017. MVP is a leader in bystander education in the United States (www.mvpstrat.com). Graham continues to support MVP development in Scotland as well as being a trainer for the US MVP organisation.

In addition, he has conducted numerous trainings and keynote speeches in Scotland, England, Wales, Sweden, and in the United States. In addition to conducting bystander trainings, Graham has expert knowledge and experience in embedding violence prevention programmes within local government, and has been able to build sustainable models for the longer term.

Graham has delivered prevention trainings in many different settings including high schools, colleges, universities, in work places, in prisons, with military and police and with professional and amateur sports in the UK and United States. Graham has worked with many different individuals and groups using bystander activities to engage audiences in the prevention of violence. Graham has worked with hairdressers, dentists, vets, fire officers, police & prison officers, bar & security staff, the military as well as in local communities.

Graham is a passionate advocate of the MVP Programme and the bystander approach. He is committed to engaging individuals making it clear that we all have a role in the prevention of violence in our communities. Since retiring from the police service he has set up the organisation ‘Cultivating Minds UK’ with the primary aim of starting conversations in many different settings and communities to promote healthy relationships and successful outcomes. He continues to work with the violence reduction unit in prevention work across Scotland and the UK.

Graham holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Studies and a Certificate in Training from Napier University, Edinburgh. He lives with his family near Edinburgh.

Martin Daubney, Award-winning Editor, Journalist, Broadcaster and Co-founder of The Men & Boys Coalition
@MartinDaubney
For eight years Martin was the longest-serving editor of Loaded magazine, then gave it up to be a stay-at-home dad.

Martin is now considered the go-to voice on masculinity and men’s issues in the British media. A columnist for Telegraph Men and a regular contributor to the Sunday Times, Martin is also a hugely experienced broadcaster. Having fronted Channel 4’s critically-acclaimed ‘Porn On The Brain’, he is also a regular (and outspoken) pundit on Sky News, ITV, Channel 5, and the BBC.

As co-founder of The Men & Boys Coalition – a collection of 50+ charities, organisations and individuals who care deeply about men and boys’ needs – he campaigns in Parliament to highlight and tackle issues where the needs of men and boys are unmet, such as boys’ educational under-attainment, men’s mental health requirements, the importance of fathers and the boom in male suicide.

Martin also visits schools where he has spoken with thousands of British teenagers on the potential dangers of online pornography and its role in sexual consent.

Ali McClure, Author, Teacher Trainer and Consultant, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and Training Director for NEYTCO (National Early Years Trainers and Consultants)
@AliMcClureEP
Ali’s distinctive writing and inspiring, quirky training ‘leave a lasting legacy’ and make her the UK’s leading authority on behaviour, learning and boys. Ali is an author, teacher trainer, consultant and SENCO as well as a training director for NEYTCO and the proud mother of three teenage boys.

‘Ali is an inspiration! I had the privilege of going on one of her workshops; it was pretty damn impressive’ – National Early Years Leader

Ali’s extraordinary training has been proven to make a dramatic difference for the outcomes, success and happiness of thousands of settings, their children and their families in the UK and abroad. The neuroscience behind physical development is driving her current research and rekindling a passion for learning in schools and settings. She is best known for her widely acclaimed book ‘Making it Better for Boys’ but the messages which run throughout work equally well for girls – after all we are all individuals, whatever our gender.

At the Policy Hub ‘Boys to Men’ conference in February, Ali will ensure delegates take away not just practical tips and advice but a real depth of insight to enable you to challenge your own practice. You will leave invigorated and be able to empower your team to really ‘Make it Better for Boys’ and for girls alike.

For more information on Ali’s work and training, please visit – www.alimcclure.co.uk

Laura Sharpe, Education and Young People’s Manager, See Me
@seemescotland
Laura Sharpe, Education and Young People’s Manager for See Me. The national organisation for anti-stigma in Scotland. During her time at See Me Laura has led on the strategic coproduction and development of the Education and Young People programme bringing together young volunteers, actively involving and engaging them to lead the change they hope to see in the world.

Laura has spent 15 years leading and developing on children and young people programmes across the third sector, helping to tackle a number of equality issues and developing programmes to improve young people’s lives.

Contact Details: laura.sharpe@seemescotland.org

Daljeet Dagon, Barnardo’s Scotland National Programme Manager for Child Sexual Exploitation and Children’s Services Manager, PACe and Safer Choices
@BarnardosScot
Daljeet has over 20 years of direct practice and management experience working with children, young people and families affected by child sexual exploitation (CSE) and associated issues. As well as managing CSE and intensive family support services, Daljeet provides strategic oversight of CSE for Barnardo’s Scotland. She has significant experience of designing and delivering training specifically for practitioners, communities and businesses in relation to CSE as well as participating in influencing, media and policy work in this area.

Dr Martin Robb, Senior Lecturer, School of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, The Open University
@martinrobbou
Martin Robb is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at The Open University, where he chairs a core module in the Masters in Childhood and Youth. From 2013-15 Martin was the Principal Investigator on ‘Beyond male role models’, a research study carried out in partnership with Action for Children, examining the role of gender in work with vulnerable young men. In 2016 he led a study on ‘Young men, masculinity and wellbeing’, as part of an international research project exploring young men’s views on ‘being a man’. Before joining The Open University, Martin worked in community projects with young offenders and other socially disadvantaged groups.

Douglas Guest, National Lead, Scotland for Mankind project
@malerolemodels
I have a background in community development, policy, equalities and funding. I recently co-created Year of the Dad, having grown Fathers Network Scotland as Trustee and Co-Chair.

I am a father of three and active volunteer, rugby coach to my boys team, as well as volunteering on three Boards. I currently work for Home-Start UK a leading family support charity. Previously I had been a Funding and Stakeholder manager at The Equality and Human Rights Commission (and its predecessor Commission for Racial Equality) for 9 years, before at ASH Scotland working during the lead up to the smoking ban on mental health and inequalities issues.

I have been a trainer for a Local Authority Drug and Alcohol Action Team and at Grampian Health Promotions training young people on life skills as well as several social care charities in the mental health and homeless fields. I am a values driven, skilled innovator and collaborative leader with over twenty five years’ service in public and third sector organisations across Scotland the wider UK.

David Devenney, Development Manager, Fathers Network Scotland
David Devenney served as a police officer in Glasgow for four years before joining the Royal Marine Commandos in 1981. He saw combat service during the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982, later working in a staff position in the Ministry of Defence and NATO headquarters. After a brief stint studying theology and serving as a parish minister in the Church of Scotland, he became a Commando-trained Padre on the staff of the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines and later Chaplain to the Special Boat Service (SBS), serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the service in 2009, he worked as team leader in a prison project for a UK charity, teaching life skills and personal development to inmates in three High Security prisons. He is a dad to two grown-up children and a hands-on grandad.