Boys and young men in Wakefield and Wigan will benefit from a new sense of community, purpose and wellbeing as the Government teams up with independent charity Rugby League Cares to tackle male loneliness.
This is part of the Government’s plans to break down barriers to opportunity as part of our Plan for Change, News Cover reports, citing UK government.
Rugby League legends Keith Senior and Adrian Morley are among a group of former players leading pilot programmes across the two regions. They will kickstart honest conversations about male mental health and help young men build confidence and resilience, so they are better equipped to cope when life gets tough.
Young men are more than twice as likely to take their own lives as young women, according to the Office for National Statistics. Since the pandemic, there has been a sharp rise in the number of young men not in employment, education or training, leaving many without regular opportunities to forge friendships and meaningful connections.
Now, the Government is harnessing sport’s unique power to give people the feeling of belonging and ensure fewer boys and young men are left vulnerable to isolation.
