Football Beyond Borders Students Take Part in ITV’s Lorraine “What Makes a Man?” Campaign

A group of our Year 10 boys from the Football Beyond Borders (FBB) group were given a fantastic opportunity this week as they took part in a special session connected to ITV’s Lorraine show. The campaign, titled “What Makes a Man?”, is fronted by presenter and podcaster Pete Wicks, and explores positive masculinity while challenging the toxic stereotypes that many young men encounter today.

FBB is an organisation that works within schools to support young people who may be struggling to engage. Through a combination of football, mentoring and specialist therapeutic support, FBB helps students build confidence, develop communication skills, and reflect on their wellbeing. A key part of the programme is encouraging young people to explore identity and emotions in a safe and supported environment.

A central theme in the first year of the programme is the What Makes a Man module. The module focuses on unpacking the societal pressures young men face, especially the expectations placed on them to behave a certain way. By emphasising the idea of multiple and diverse “masculinities,” FBB aims to broaden how masculinity is understood and expressed. Ultimately, the goal is to help students feel confident showing up as their most authentic selves and to empower them to support others in doing the same.

The session was led by Reiss Campbell-Corr, FBB’s Specialist Management Practitioner, who has been working closely with our students for more than two years. Reiss was joined by Pete Wicks, and together they guided a powerful workshop that challenged typical masculine stereotypes, including the weight of phrases such as “man up” and “boys don’t cry.”

Later in the session, students took part in the impactful “What’s Behind the Mask?” activity. This encouraged them to reflect on the pressures they experience daily to act a certain way, while creating space for them to reveal the feelings and vulnerabilities often hidden beneath the surface. The honesty and maturity they showed during this task was a proud moment for everyone involved.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making this opportunity possible. A special shoutout goes to Reiss and the entire FBB team for continuously showing up for our young people - providing not just a programme, but a trusted adult presence, an outlet, and a safe space for them to express and understand themselves.