Success against the odds: targeting at-risk boys and young men

Tuesday 3 July 2007

An innovative mentoring program for at-risk boys and young men that has delivered extraordinary results in the UK will be presented at the University of Newcastle's 'Working with Boys, Building Fine Men' conference tomorrow.

In his keynote address, Melvyn Davis, Founder of the boys2MEN Project and now Director of The Male Development Service in the United Kingdom, will demonstrate the Project's success.

boys2MEN is a program which blends music, visual and performing arts, sport and life- experience for boys and young people, and their fathers.

It aims to assist males who are considered vulnerable, challenging, and hard to reach or at risk of social exclusion, to rediscover their potential and to successfully make the transition from childhood to adulthood and on to fatherhood.

The boys2MEN Project won the British Government’s Department of Health 'Social Care Award' for its exceptional efforts in turning around the lives of boys considered at-risk.

The University of Newcastle's Family Action Centre will host the 5th Biennial 'Working with Boys, Building Fine Men' conference from 4 - 6 July 2007 in Newcastle. Melvyn Davis will present 'Success against the odds' at 10.15am on Wednesday 4 July 2007.

For more information visit: www.pco.com.au/boys2007

To organise interviews with Melvyn Davis or speakers, contact Camilla McQualter in the Family Action Centre on 02 4921 7743.