petition.parliament.uk/petitions/236828
This may seem like a strange subject to broach on a website whose readers are probably mostly female but I have been encouraged by the fact that the most enthusiastic support I have received so far has come from women. I guess when things go wrong for the men in the family it is usually the women who are left to pick up the pieces.
Over the last couple of years there has been a lot of focus on issues facing women and girls. As a man with a wife and two daughters, I think this is great and we should all continue to give our full support here.
When things are discussed, openly and honestly, attitudes can be changed and solutions found. There are a lot of issues facing men and boys which, I think, need pushing up the agenda. Many of these issues are inter-related and we really need someone to take overall charge of policy and take a holistic approach to these problems.
It is difficult to think of anything more fundamental than taking one’s own life or having to sleep without a roof over your head but how often are we told that these things affect men so much more – particularly young men?
Early years education is so important and it is vital that boys have positive role models then so that they can learn that it is OK to be caring, it is OK to read books and there is more to life than football and aggression. My own primary school teacher, Mr Corbett, is definitely one of the two men, together with my dad, who shaped me as I grew from being a boy into a man.
Education is so important and there is a proven negative correlation between it and violence.
If you are reading this you are probably familiar with the process of signing such petitions. It only takes a few moments. I feel very strongly about this so please sign up and help spread the word. As I said, I have two daughters and I want the very best for them but one day I might have grandsons and I would like the best for them too, as I am sure you would for yours.