End of award conference

The Beyond Male Role Models? research project has provided a unique opportunity to explore how young men who use welfare services view the gender of professional workers, and how those workers themselves (whether male or female) see gender issues being played out in their respective relationships. Important findings have also emerged in relation to what supports effective work with young men.

The Beyond Male Role Models? end of award conference took place on Thursday 12th of March 2015 and reported on the findings of the project.  The conference also examined the implications for practice and policy through presentations and a short film made as part of the research. Professor David Morgan, (Emeritus Professor, Manchester University) opened the conference and was our chair for the day. We also had a presentation by Kate Mulley from Action for Children as well as Dr Stephen Hicks from The University of Manchester.

If you were unable to attend the conference, we have the pleasure of providing the audio recording of the conference below.

Session one

• Welcome from Professor Brigid Featherstone, Professor of Social work, Health & Social Care, The Open University
• Welcome from Chair: Professor David Morgan, Emeritus Professor, The University of Manchester
• Guest speaker: Kate Mulley, Director of Policy and Campaigns, Action for Children
• Presentation of findings from research: Professor Brigid Featherstone (The Open University) Dr Martin Robb (The Open University) Dr Mike Ward (The Open University) Sandy Ruxton (Independent Consultant)
• Respondent: Dr Stephen Hicks, University of Manchester
• Questions and discussion with panel

Audio replay of session 1

Session two

• Introduction to afternoon from Chair: Professor David Morgan, The University of Manchester
• Beyond Male Role Models? project film highlighting key messages from the research
• Panel of practitioners and managers from projects who participated in the research: John McConnell (Action for Children) George Epsworth (Action for Children) Darren Tipping (Action for Children) Owen Thomas (Working with Men)
• Group discussions

Audio replay of session 2

Session three

• Closing Plenary with Professor David Morgan

You can follow the Beyond Male Role Models? project on @beyondmaleroles

For any further information on the project or any queries please contact hsc-re-events@open.ac.uk