As social creatures, we all need to belong to some kind of family – and not necessarily in the traditional sense.

It could be a bunch of friends, or an after school study group.

Maybe “the boys” are your gaming clan, or your band.

Perhaps it’s your local dog walking group.

It could be your church, your pub quiz team (that finishes last every week), or a gym bro that never lets you skip leg day.

Any of these can be family… and it could also be a gang.

The correlation between fatherless boys and those who join a gang is an unpopular topic, but it’s also one that ought to be discussed.

Because, tragically, many young boys without a father go looking for structure, for protection, leadership and ‘family’ elsewhere – leaving many vulnerable to gang recruitment.

‘The hole in the heart of fatherless boys’, as Dr Warren Farrell calls it.

And too often these hurt boys, hurt us.

So what can be said about our lost boys, and how do we bring them back?

What do you think?

CamBro Conversations 317 with George from TheTinMen, full podcast here: https://tinyurl.com/yasah97n

#mensmentalhealth #mensissues #keirstarmer

2025-07-20