About this Event
Overview
What About the Boys? 2025 is a one-day conference for youth workers, educators, frontline practitioners, and allied professionals to explore the challenges facing boys and young men today.
Through inspiring speakers, interactive workshops, and lived experience, the event will share practical tools and fresh perspectives on masculinity, identity, mental health, and wellbeing. Delegates will also have the chance to connect with colleagues, discover new resources, and build partnerships across youth, education, and community sectors.
Now in its seventh year, What About the Boys? has become a leading platform for shaping positive change for boys and young men across the Fylde Coast and beyond. Building on the success of 2024 - which brought together over 150 delegates and received overwhelmingly positive feedback - the 2025 conference will again be co-designed with young men to ensure their voices remain at the heart of the conversation.
This year’s workshops will tackle key issues including consent and misogyny, racism, neurodiversity, chemsex, and the impact of social media on serious violence. Alongside these sessions, delegates will gain insight from national speakers, share learning through case studies, and help shape a collective Call to Action - a strategy for change that supports young men’s wellbeing, safety, and opportunities.
Workshops
Workshops include:
Consent, Misogyny and Pornography – helping young men critically explore online content and build healthy, respectful relationships.
The Impact of Racism on Black and Brown Young Men – led by Anti Racist Cumbria, challenging perceptions and exploring anti-racist practice.
Beyond the Label – raising awareness of ADHD, autism, and dyslexia in young men, and promoting inclusive approaches in schools and youth groups.
Chemsex and Young People – understanding substance-enhanced sexual behaviour and breaking down stigma through trauma-informed support.
The Voice of the Child – listening to young people’s perspectives on social media and serious violence.
Marketplace of Ideas
Explore our Marketplace of Ideas, where organisations and projects from across the Fylde Coast and beyond showcase their work. This is a chance to discover innovative approaches, share resources, and spark new collaborations. Whether you’re looking for tools, partnerships, or inspiration, the marketplace is a hub for connecting with others committed to driving positive change for boys and young men.
Call to Action
What About the Boys? goes beyond discussion - it’s about shaping solutions.
The conference will close with a collective Call to Action, co-created with delegates and young people. Drawing on insights from workshops, the marketplace, and keynote sessions, this will set out a clear strategy for change. By attending, you’ll play a direct role in shaping this vision: sharing your expertise, amplifying young voices, and committing to practical steps that will make a lasting difference for boys and young men across the Fylde Coast and beyond.
Who Should Attend
This conference is designed for:
- Frontline and youth workers
- Teachers and educators
- Police and community safety teams
- Local authority staff
- Organisations working with young people
- Allied workforce professionals
- Businesses looking to invest in young people and support the local workforce
👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and take action. Join us on 19 November at the Village Hotel, Blackpool.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided and are included in the ticket price.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Village Hotel Blackpool, East Park Drive, Blackpool, United Kingdom
GBP 75.00
