Launched in 1999, and now celebrated in more than 80 countries worldwide, every year on November 19th, International Men’s Day is commemorated worldwide. Proposed objectives of International Men’s Day include a focus on men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting male role models. International Men’s Day coincides with Movember, which involves men growing their facial hair in an effort to promote conversations about men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
On this day we aim to highlight positive role models and raise awareness of men’s well-being, and shine a spotlight on men who are making a positive difference. The 2019 theme for International Men’s Day is “Making a difference for men and boys”.
“International Men’s Day encourages men to lead by example. Boys need positive male role models. Our broader community also needs positive male role models. This is the best way to create a fair and safe society which allows everyone the opportunity to flourish.”
Many see International Men’s Day as a very real and important catalyst to opening up discussion around the unique struggles facing men. With suicide being the biggest killer of men under 45, IMD provides an opportunity to address problems like these and promote open, non-judgmental conversations. We understand it can be difficult to open up, which is why at Aspire we offer 6, free and professional counselling sessions for any staff who requires support, or would simply like someone to talk to.
Throughout Tops and Aspire we are proud to recognise such a dedicated and inclusive workforce of over 8% of male staff across the Tops and Aspire family, from apprentices working towards qualifications, qualified practitioners, nursery managers, chefs, and other roles in management, training and administration. We are also delighted to be supporting Men in the Early Years sector by signing up to the MITEY Charter, a pledge for nurseries, pre-schools, and other settings across the UK to show support in valuing men and their contribution to the care and education for young children.
- We value men’s capacity to care for and educate children, both within families and as professionals
- We acknowledge that education should benefit from the talents of all, so we are actively seeking to create a workforce that includes men, women and people with other gendered or non-gendered identities
- We view early years education as a critical context in which to address gender inequality and stereotypes, for the benefit of children and wider society.
- We value the benefits to children of being educated and cared for by a diverse, mixed-gender early years workforce.Click here to find out more information about International Men’s Day and how you can get involved this year!
Delivering quality Apprenticeships and Training across Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon and Hampshire, in Childcare, Business Administration, Leadership and Management, and more. With offices in Salisbury, Taunton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Plymouth
