Hearing from the Men of One-Eighty on the Lost Boys Report
In March 2025, the Centre for Social Justice released the Lost Boys Report, a stark look at how boys and young men across the UK are falling behind. In education, in mental health, in outcomes. The report has since sparked wide-ranging conversations, from a powerful speech by Gareth Southgate to a feature on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO.
One-Eighty’s own Susie Besant attended the launch of the report in person. As proud recipients of the CSJ Award in 2024, the team felt strongly that this was not just a policy moment but a deeply personal one. The boys described in Lost Boys are the very young people One-Eighty supports every day.
“We see so many referrals come in that absolutely correlate with the Lost Boys report,” said Kieren, Service Manager. “Young boys, out of education, been for a long time, have got these emotional challenges, and different schools or local authorities are putting in services to support them while they're not in anything.”
We decided to sit down with the male members of our team to get their reflections, not just as professionals, but as men working in this field. These topics can still feel uncomfortable to speak about openly. They're often seen as “taboo” because as soon as we start talking about boys and men struggling, some fear it means downplaying the struggles of others. That’s not the case. This is not about comparison. It’s about inclusion.
Shifting Assumptions
One of the findings that stood out to some of the team was the reversal of the gender pay gap. According to the report, women in their twenties now out-earn men in most parts of the UK. It’s a shift that challenged some long-held assumptions.
Josh, Intervention Specialist said:
“It’s been advertised so much that the gender pay gap is all in favour of men. And actually, for young males, that’s not the case. And that changes how you think about opportunity, especially when you’re still expected to be the provider.”
Matt reflected on what the pressure means:
“There’s still a lot of pressure on young men to be the provider. But actually, that might not be possible anymore, and for some, it never was.”
Representation, Recruitment, and Role Models
One-Eighty has seen a shift in its own staff over the past few years, especially in recognising the importance of positive male role models in this space.
Kieren reflects on how things have changed at One-Eighty since he joined:
“Currently, we have six male members of staff... from early 20s to mid-40s. Some of us are more sporty, some have more arts backgrounds... but we all come with the robustness to hold an emotional space.”
Imran, Lead Practitioner, echoed the importance of representation in the workforce:
“We have noticed that the whole sector is very female-led. The lack of role models is pretty clear. So we're trying to address that through our recruitment policy.”
Josh captured why this matters:
“There are men out there who do care about someone’s mental health, someone’s wellbeing… it’s okay to be that guy. It’s okay to feel.”
And Ferzand reminded us that being a role model doesn’t mean being perfect - it means being real.
“If you come across fake, they’ll find you out quickly. But if you’re honest, even if they don’t agree with you, they’ll respect that. That’s where the bond begins.”
In speaking with the team, a quiet but powerful theme emerged: this work is personal. The boys they support aren’t just case numbers - they’re mirrors, brothers, sons, versions of themselves at a different moment.
“As One-Eighty practitioners,” says Kieren, “we show up regardless. For some boys, that’s the first time someone’s said, ‘I believe in you.’”
This conversation doesn’t cover it all, it’s a starting point. We’re not claiming to have all the answers. But we do know that boys are facing serious challenges, and we want to be part of the solution.
