Man and Boy

"Every boy needs a positive male role model in their life, and especially during childhood. This relationship is most commonly filled by their dad but when this isn’t possible, another significant man in a boy’s life could take this place."

Man and Boy is an organisation which provides fun and enjoyable activities for young boys and a significant man in their life to take part in. From camps to rock climbing to electronics, a wide variety of events are designed to strengthen the relation between the man and boy, and encourage them to spend more time with each other.

By doing so, they help young boys from all backgrounds gain a greater self-esteem and confidence, and men are supported as necessary role models to help guide them throughout their youth.

Interacting with other families through these types of events are a great way to not only get to know your man or boy better, but also learn about other families and their dynamics. The staff and volunteers help create and maintain a healthy, positive environment as families learn new skills together.

Personally, I am very fortunate to have been involved in this brilliant organisation. Last year, my father and I were invited to one of M&B's Summer Camps. Over the course of the event, it is safe to say that the camp was one of the best experiences we have ever had and will be one that I will certainly never forget.

It seemed our activities started from the moment we reached the campsite. After taking in the marvellous scenery of nature (a stark contrast to regular suburban living!), we raced to pitch our tents. It was the first time I had ever been camping, yet it was still a great way to kick-start what was going to be a wonderful camp.

During this two-night stay, we participated in a number of different activities including team-building exercises, rock climbing, mountain biking, trekking, keychain-making, kayaking etc. It certainly was a jam-packed adventure! There was simply no better way to end the day than with a cosy campfire, hot chocolate and a game of footy.

I would have to say that my favourite activity was the kayaking. Straight after a physically exerting yet amazing bike ride along the quiet, peaceful fields and roads, we soon found ourselves in kayaks (each for a man and boy). Again, it was something my dad and I had never tried before, and it did take quite a while to get the hang of it. That is, after a series of crashing into reeds and falling over. Thanks Dad! Whilst we may not have been the bee's knees at some activities, I can unreservedly state that they were a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to bond with other boys and men, but most importantly, my father.

At the end of the camp, I found that my relation with my father ever since has significantly improved. Our communication with each other has become more patient and controlled, and has helped foster a healthier, happier bond between us. In a family with a special needs sibling, sometimes days can be quite tough and stressful; M&B have helped galvanise our family so we can face these challenges together in harmony. I think this is very clear in showing how M&B has been a great support to our family and many others.

I am immensely thankful to the organisers and M&B staff and volunteers that helped put on this camp. They were always there to help and never failed to keep spirits high. Towards the end of the day, we would engage in what's called the 'Encouragement Circle', where we would gather around and mention something we wanted to encourage about someone. Every time one would make a statement, a ball would be placed into a long plastic tube. Believe it or not, the tube was literally overflowing before the end of the second day!

Besides the thrilling experience, I also got to learn about the stories of different people who attended the camp. I won't go into them in much detail, but I will say that after hearing them, I realised how fortunate I really was. Some families have endured incredibly difficult times and still are today - I am immensely grateful to Man & Boy for providing such an opportunity to these families and helping them build a stronger relation to deal with the challenges that lay ahead.

Overall, the camp helped open my eyes to the difficulties faced by other families and the impact it had on the boys. More importantly, it made me realise how crucial organisations such as Man and Boy are, especially for such families. As I slowly move away from my 'young boy' phase, I could not help but feel the urge to support this organisation and promote their ideologies. Now, I am proud to be a volunteer for Man and Boy and help out in their activities.

Earlier this year, I volunteered in one of M&B's 5-week Climb and Connect course. Each session was divided into two parts: the first revolving around relationships and how they can be strengthened, through lessons on topics such as communicating and apologising. The second part was a session at White Spider Climbing for rock climbing. Over the weeks, families learnt the skills needed for this exciting activity such as rope tying and belaying. Each was assessed after the five weeks to enable them to go rock climbing on their own without an instructor.

More recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer at an Electronics and Circuit building workshop. Families were taught about circuit boards and soldering, using these acquired skills to build their own LED torch. It was great seeing the men and boys working together - to overcome what would normally appear to be quite complex - and produce something very impressive. As for myself, I particularly enjoyed making some of the drinks and helping out wherever I could.

A special thanks to Mark Roberts, Paul Ellis, Trevor Quy and all the other members for providing the opportunity to many families over the years to enjoy these activities and helping build fantastic relationships, showing families the way forward. They have also supported me greatly in becoming a volunteer and giving me the chance to further involve myself in this community.

From a boy to a volunteer, I know that my time at M&B has not been too long, though I can say without a doubt that it is a place I feel that I belong to. From my observations and the reactions of the families, I would recommend this organisation to anyone. Whether you're looking to spend more time with your man or boy, or you just want to have a bit of fun and learn a new skill, Man & Boy is there to help.

Go on over to the Man & Boy website - if you're interested in joining or would like to donate, please do so.