Why we exist
Never before has there been such a crisis in family life and society: ex-PM David Cameron once said that society is broken — it's got worse.(3)
Never before have children suffered such problems with their mental health and gender identity, and been so dependent on social media's influence, as today. Current statistics show a 65% increase in admissions to psychiatric hospitals for young people in the UK.(4)
Families First 24 challenges this current culture by showing a different way. We offer support and training to help men make the choices that will give them the right work/life balance and enrich their family life.
We believe that the most important job anyone can have is being a parent. Unfortunately, that hasn't been recognised and affirmed for more than the last fifty years.
We live in a culture where status and financial reward are the main drivers in most career decisions. Often these result in a dangerous work/life balance, for which the family picks up the tab. Often the question many caught in this trap ask is: "what else can I do?" That's where Families First 24 can help.
We've heard from many men who lost a job that carried significant status and reward, only to secure one that gives a proper work/life balance. These jobs are usually of lower status and reward, but amazingly there can be a twofold benefit: first, an improvement in the dad's health, both physical and mental, and a greater sense of wellbeing for him. Second, for the family — who are likely to feel richer for the dad being "present," and able to play his true part.
"Brian's experience" (not his real name): he was made redundant from his job running the IT department of a large corporation — a job he hadn't been happy in for a long time. He then started teaching primary-school-aged children to play tennis, a game he'd always enjoyed. Alongside the benefit to the children, Brian gets a lot of pleasure from his new job. He's much healthier, his stress and anxiety levels have plummeted, and he's able to be there for his wife and children in a way he hasn't for years.
Brian's experience illustrates the health benefits of such a change. There have never been higher levels of stress and anxiety, with over 86% of the UK adult population reporting stress caused by finance or work pressures.(5) Additionally, the UK's heart health has declined more rapidly in the 2020s than in any other decade in the past 50 years.(6)
We're also very aware of the links between social media usage and mental health. It's a topic that needs more discussion than this page allows, but it's another area in which we offer help and support.
It's a joy to have launched Families First 24 this year — more content will be appearing in future. Watch this space!
If you feel caught in the "work trap" and would like help to escape it, why not contact us?
