19/11/2025
Today, on International Men’s Day, I want to take a moment to talk about some of the men in my life the ones who’ve shaped me, supported me, challenged me, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with me on this journey.
In Fatherhood Solutions, I am surrounded by men who show, every single day, what positive masculinity actually looks like. Not the box we were told to squeeze ourselves into growing up but the real thing.
The kind built on vulnerability, compassion, coaching, caring, parenting, empathy, mentoring, relationship, and friendship.
Our Fatherhood Navigators are a perfect example of this.
They are ordinary men doing extraordinary things supporting other dads through tough moments, sharing lived experience, giving their time, and offering a safe space for men to talk without judgement. They show that strength isn’t pretending you are fine. Strength is turning up for someone else even when you’re struggling yourself.
People talk a lot about “role modelling”…
But what is it really?
To me, role modelling is the quiet stuff:
It’s how you speak to people.
It’s how you handle pressure.
It’s showing up for your kids even when you’re tired.
It’s the way you treat your partner.
It’s how you own your mistakes and how you put things right.
It’s being able to say, “I don’t know, but I’m learning.”
That’s what men need.
That’s what boys need to see.
And that’s the standard these men set every day.
I am incredibly fortunate to have these men in my life not just as colleagues or volunteers, but as friends and brothers. Their influence doesn’t just impact me; it shapes the dads they support, the families who rely on them, and the wider culture we’re trying to shift.
International Men’s Day isn’t about ego or celebration for the sake of it.
It’s about recognising the good men out there the ones trying, learning, loving, and making change in their own communities.
To every man who’s part of Fatherhood Solutions, and to the men who have helped shape me into who I am today thank you. I am proud to walk alongside you.
Let’s keep showing the world what healthy, real, honest masculinity looks like.
