BY MALIK OUZIA
ACCORDING to the Office for National Statistics, young men are more than twice as likely to take their own lives as young women.
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.
Boys and young men in Wakefield and Wigan will now benefit from a new sense of community, purpose and wellbeing as the Government teams up with charity Rugby League Cares to tackle male loneliness.
This is part of the Labour Party’s intention to break down barriers to opportunity as part of their ‘Plan for Change.’
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, harnessing sport’s unique power to give people the feeling of belonging and ensure fewer boys and young men are left vulnerable to isolation.
Culture secretary and Wigan MP, Lisa Nandy, said: “Too many young men today are struggling with loneliness and isolation. We know the devastating consequences this can have, both for their mental health and for our communities.
“When young people can’t find a sense of belonging where they live, they are vulnerable to finding it in the wrong places.”
She added: “Rugby league has always been more than just a sport in towns like Wigan and Wakefield. It is the heartbeat of these communities.
“By bringing together the legends of the game with the next generation, we are creating spaces where young men can open up, build genuine connections and develop the resilience they need.
“Everyone deserves to feel they’re part of something bigger than themselves. Through this work with Rugby League Cares, we are making sure more young men get that chance and can reach their full potential.”
Nandy made the announcement during a visit to a Rugby League Cares programme in Wigan. The Government investment of more than £330,000 will fund the two RLC pilot programmes, reaching 1,300 boys and young men by March 2026.
The first, Offload, is designed to give men aged 16 to 24 who are at risk of isolation a safe environment to open up without pressure or judgement, while developing the tools they need to look after themselves and contribute positively to their communities.
The second, the Movember Ahead of the Game programme, will use league to deliver sport-focused mental health training to younger boys aged 11-18, as well as parents, carers and youth workers, engaging those at risk early through the game they love and the heroes they admire.
RLC head of wellbeing programmes, former international centre Senior, noted: “The difference these programmes make is incredible. They’re delivered by people who are embedded within the villages, towns and cities where the sport is played and who know all about the challenges boys and young men face growing up in these communities.
“Being able to call on our own experiences of tackling issues like loneliness, social isolation and having little sense of belonging as we grew up is invaluable in helping us to relate to and engage with the people we are reaching out to.”
Senior, whose career was cut short by a knee injury and then bungled surgery admitted: “The values I learned as a professional athlete equipped me with many of the same coping mechanisms and strategies that we all need to thrive and lead fulfilling lives, and I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with boys and young men in Wakefield and Wigan.”
Wigan is among one of the towns that has the highest rate of male death by suicide. Warriors’ assistant head of community, Scott Rafferty, noted: “We’re really pleased to officially launch the Offload pilot in partnership with Rugby League Cares.
“When we first learned about it and the concerning statistics around the number of young men in Wigan at risk of loneliness and isolation, we knew it was something we needed to help address.”
“Having worked for Wakefield Trinity’s community engagement team before I entered politics, I know the critical role that rugby league plays in our area,” said Ossett and Denby Dale MP Jade Botterill.
“As an MP, I’ve also seen first-hand the excellent work the club and Rugby League Cares do across the region – particularly around the often overlooked issue of mental health for men and boys.
“I’m pleased that the Government has recognised the leading role the sport, our club, and its players play through this new partnership.”