Whilst celebrating positive male role models, IMD also helps to raise awareness of issues affecting men, including toxic masculinity and the prevalence of male suicide rates, which make up three quarters of suicides in the UK*.
On IMD, people are encouraged to share stories of inspirational men who have had positive impacts on their lives.
This year’s theme for IMD is “Making a difference for men and boys”. Warwick Marsh, coordinator of IMD, explained the inspiration behind this year’s chosen theme:
“We want to promote the need to value men and boys and help people make practical improvements in men and boy’s health and well-being. International Men’s Day encourages men to lead by example. Boys need positive male role models. Our broader community also needs positive male role models. This is the best way to create a fair and safe society which allows everyone the opportunity to flourish.”
I took three months of parental leave to be a full time dad and it is hard to put in to words just how much of an amazing experience this was.
International Business Manager, Chris Heath, reflects on his decision to take shared parental leave earlier this year, how he was encouraged to do so by Blick Rothenberg and what it meant to him and his son:
“I took three months of parental leave to be a full time dad and it is hard to put in to words just how much of an amazing experience this was.
My son, who was 7-10 months old during the period, and I went to swimming, music, and baby signing classes together. This helped my partner to return to her career on a full time basis in the knowledge that I would be looking after our son full time and alternative childcare arrangements would not be necessary.
It has also given me a new range of skills and experiences from problem solving and prioritisation to risk management in a very practical way.
The team and my colleagues were very supportive throughout. They were happy to be flexible in looking after my portfolio while I was away and I knew that that this was in excellent hands. They have also been supportive of me working from home when necessary on my return and in fitting my schedule around the sometimes unpredictable demands of parenthood.”
Blick Rothenberg is committed to equal opportunities for all.
*Statistics sourced from the ONS