Former England manager Gareth Southgate it turning his attention from football to the biggest challenges facing young men and boys in a new BBC documentary.
Unfortunately, the stereotype that boys should hide their struggles still persists. Over the years, writers, campaigners and organisations have worked to challenge those attitudes – from Malorie Blackman to William Pollack – and now, Gareth Southgate is the latest figure to join efforts to raise awareness.
Image credit: BBC/Cardiff Productions/Sam Palmer
The former England boss is starring in a new documentary called Gareth Southgate: Changing the Game for Young Men, which premiered on BBC One and BBC iPlayer last night (1 June).
Within the hour-long film, Southgate travels to meet young men and boys that are falling behind at school, struggling to find work and/or are growing up without a father figure. He also sits down with young inmates in prison to understand what led them into crime.
Southgate said the documentary isn’t just about the why and that it aims to explore how things can be improved for young men in Britain today. The programme moves beyond debates surrounding the so-called ‘manosphere’ – a topic Louis Theroux recently covered for Netflix.
‘This is the next step in my purpose to get young men and boys moving in the right direction rather than falling behind,’ Southgate said. ‘I wanted them to speak openly and without judgement about what’s really going on in their lives. Through these conversations, I’ve gained a better understanding of the challenges they face.
‘It’s been a fascinating experience, and I am so grateful to everyone I met who were brave enough to share their stories. hope this documentary will go some way towards changing the national conversation and encourage us all to support them in realising their potential.’
After eight years as England manager, Southgate stepped down following Euro 2024. While best known for his career in football, his time spent in the role also brought attention to his interest in men’s mental health – something that can be seen through the BBC’s drama Dear England, which premiered at the end of last month.
The four-part drama shows when Southgate took over the England men’s team in 2016, the squad were struggling with anxiety and a tendency to underperform in high-pressure situations. However, after working with psychologist Dr Pippa Grange, he helped create a more supportive environment, aiming to separate the fear of failure from the fear of performing.
Gian Quaglieni, commissioning editor at the BBC, said there is no one better placed to explore the issues facing young men and boys in our society. He said: ‘Gareth Southgate is in a unique position to explore why so many boys feel like they’re falling behind and to think differently about what might help.
‘This film steps away from polarised arguments and instead listens to how young people really feel and what they’re dealing with. These are important conversations – and not always easy – but they need to be heard.’
Images: BBC/Cardiff Productions/Sam Palmer
In related news:
Staff room: talking health and social care with Tameside Council
Leave a Reply