Top Tips for working with boys and young men

1. Be as positive about sex as we are at alerting them to the risks. Young men are more likely to engage if we are able to discuss pleasure too.
2. Services are more likely to be trusted if there are clear links between them and those delivering RSE. If the RSE is ‘safe’ then anyone in a service associated with it more likely to be trusted.
3. Sexual health campaigns need to be targeted at young men's needs too.
4. Ensure methods suit boys learning styles. Boys respond to a skills focus as much as reflection and knowledge.
5. Focus on ‘solutions’ as much as ‘problems’ and make achievement tangible.
6. Help group members improve their relationships with each other e.g. interrupt ‘banter’ by setting ‘ground rules’. Homophobia undermines safety in groups.
7. Be respectful of them as young men and the positive aspects of their masculinity. Young men can behave badly but if we want to engage we need to acknowledge their positive behaviour too.
8. Interrupt the need to compete, thus making safer environments in which they can learn about sex and relationships e.g. use team working and harness competition.
9. Support them to work together and develop the ability to empathise. Learning to empathise with each other may lead to empathising with young women - let them choose when to move between the personal and impersonal.
10. Support them to reflect on and discuss their more ‘private’ or individual views rather than simply those publicly acceptable to their peer group. This helps ensures the range of acceptable models of masculinity becomes wider.

Useful links for further resources and research on working with boys and young men:

http://www.workingwithmen.org/

http://www.boysdevelopmentproject.org.uk/