Dear Gareth,
Your Richard Dimbleby Lecture struck a chord.
You spoke powerfully about the world young men are growing up in today – a world where virtual reality takes precedence over the physical, where male role models are scarce, and where toxic online influences rush to fill the void. Where smartphones consume time and attention. It’s a crisis. And as a father to a young boy, I share that worry deeply.
But for parents raising boys in poverty, I know that worry runs far deeper.
You spoke of boys falling behind and losing their way. But for many of those growing up in deprivation, there was never a clear “way” to begin with. One in five young people living in poverty believe their life will amount to nothing. They believe there is nothing they can achieve or contribute.
Why? Because they are growing up in a system that’s failing them.
Youth services have shut. Education funding is misdirected. The effects of the pandemic still linger. And in the absence of safe, structured, real-world environments to play, explore and grow, social media steps in – and false idols take centre stage.
And all the while, these boys are navigating adolescence. Their bodies awash with hormones, emotions heightened, identities still forming. Uncertainty, risk, vulnerability – these are normal parts of growing up. But the support they need to move through it safely too often isn’t there.
As a former professional rugby player and England Rugby’s pathways lead, I’ve had the privilege of playing alongside and developing some outstanding young men. I’ve felt the exhilaration of competition, thrived on the physicality of sport, and I still cry at sad films – all vital emotions, and all essential to experience fully.
More than anything, I’ve seen the life-changing power of environments where boys are allowed to express themselves, fail safely, and build resilience. I’ve seen the transformational impact of consistent, trusted adults – coaches, mentors – who show boys that their worth is defined not by bravado or bravura, but by character, discipline, and contribution to something bigger than themselves.
I’m sure you’ve seen that too.
What you may not have seen yet is the impact of Greenhouse Sports . And I’d like to change that.
For 25 years, we’ve embedded full-time Coach-Mentors into schools in the UK’s most deprived areas. These aren’t just sports coaches. They’re mentors, role models, and consistent daily presences in the lives of vulnerable young people. They don’t just coach sport. They coach life.
They help young people recognise their strengths, find belonging, build resilience, and grow in confidence. They help them believe – often for the first time – that their lives matter. That their futures are worth building.
You said you want to play a role in addressing the crisis facing young men.
You can. By helping us grow our impact at Greenhouse, and ensuring that every young person, no matter where they’re born, has a trusted adult in their corner.
I’d love to speak with you about how we can work together. Let’s find a time.