This year International Men’s Day is held on Tuesday 19th November 2024

Many organisations and people hold events and activities in the week before and the week after, especially if it falls on a weekend like this year (generic undated IMD images can be found in the images section). Please do not be constrained by the day of the week.

The UK themes for the Day which are used every year and help maximise participation are:

• Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys
• Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity
• Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing

There are lots of fantastic opportunities for you to use these and run events and activities, including:

• Highlight some serious issues affecting men and boys and their wellbeing
• Encourage and support men and boys in getting support including signposting and making it more accessible
• Using speakers from charities supporting men and boys (contact them direct)
• Hold events, run campaigns, tweet/post/send messages
• Raise money for charities supporting men and boys
• Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity
• Celebrate Britain’s men and boys (great for schools and colleges  – who is your favourite man – dads, brothers etc)
• Help organisations showcase to display their Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) credentials
• Have some fun!!!

We also have an Employers Guide too.

Many adapt/convert the above themes to a theme/message/campaign that suits their organisation or campaign. For example, some use:

• mental health (“improving men’s mental health” or “It’s OK to talk” or “It’s good to talk” or “I/We are here to listen”)
• health (“better men’s health”or “better health for men and boys” or “get yourself checked” or “remember to check yourself for xyz)
• community (“supporting men in our community” or “celebrating the difference men and boys make to our community/school/business/sports team/lives/families/women and girls)
• togetherness (“looking out for our mates”  or “making time for old mates” or making time to make new mates” or “reaching out to mates who are finding it tough”)
• learning events (“learn about male victims of domestic abuse / sexual violence / prostate cancer)
•  promote services (please call our/their helpline / visit our service),
• father/dad events (“supporting new dads” or “involving fathers in pregnancy”)
• others run events fundraising for a male charity (“raise funds for x” – see our charity list) whilst others hold “your most inspirational man” or “help boys get reading” campaigns.

Across November in the UK in previous years there have been a Parliamentary debate, policy launches, employer days, community events, health days, business events, staff support days (including inviting talks from charities and /or bringing in motivational speakers), debates, student events, political events, lectures, research launches, gigs, charity promotion days,  book launches, mental health discussions, film showings, conferences, competitions, comedy nights, get-togethers, award announcements and charity fundraisers – the most anywhere in the world. There is not “set” type of thing you can do!

People and organisations do not have to stick to holding an event or celebration on 19 November if they want to mark the day.

In 2023, there were over 800 organisations taking part in the UK.

It is also a great opportunity to support, signpost and raise funds for charities that support the wellbeing of men and boys.

To help with ideas many people looked at what others were doing in  previous years (click on the events page and go to ‘previous events’ or look here:

2023, 2022, 2021,  2020, 2019, 2018, 2017,  2016 and 2015).

YOU CAN HAVE SOME SERIOUS FUN

• Fundraising for a men and boys charity (see suggested list) – why not contact them for ideas/fundraising/leaflets/attend events?
• Running quizzes, competitions, speaker events (get a local sports star / hero in), social nights down the pub, comedy night, gig, night at the greyhounds etc

YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT SOME SERIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING MEN AND BOYS AND THEIR WELLBEING

• By organising an International Men’s Day event in your area or at an organisation you are involved in (including work) – getting speakers in (including motivational speakers or speakers from charities), hold conferences, health events, encourage men to seek help (signposting)
• Hold new recruitment events for UK Men’s Sheds, Andy’s Man Clubs and a whole host of others
• Create videos, social cards, messages, posters and/or use social media – internally or externally – reach your staff or customers or the wider world
• Issue positive messages on the importance of checking for male cancers, support on mental health and how important men are to the success of your organisation
• Signpost men and boys to charities and organisations that can help them – great for employers (intranets, leaflets), sports clubs and public services (health, police, councils etc)
• By using the day to raise awareness of issues facing men and boys (many companies use it to support male employees)
• Launch  new research, campaigns and polices on men and boys issues
• Help organisations showcase to display their Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) credentials
• There are speaker agencies with motivational speakers specifically for International Men’s Day (Champion Speaker Agency, Diversity and Inclusion Speaker agency, Great British Speakers , Ryan Parke , Wellbeing in Progress and the Wellbeing Agency)
• By taking action to support an existing organisations, campaigns or projects

YOU CAN CELEBRATE MEN AND BOYS IN ALL THEIR HAIRY DIVERSITY

• By voting “World’s Greatest Man” event in your workplace, club or community – great for school-children (include girls in this!) and many companies ask colleagues to write blogs (very inclusive if you involve female work colleagues!)
• Celebrate “Dads of the Year”, “Community Man of the Year” or “Best Male Employee of the Year”
• Celebrate the event in schools – TES has produced an International Men’s Day education kit
• You can arrange a Community Appreciation Event
• By sending an International Men’s Day message or card to the important men in your life who you want to acknowledge – a relative, friend, neighbour, colleague or partner
• Just putting a message on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter!
• By taking steps to forgive a man who you haven’t forgiven for something

See how other organisations in the UK celebrated International Men’s Day in  previous years.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an individual sending a card to man in your life you want to say ‘Thank You’ to, a small group having of men sharing a few beers or a big group of people putting on a great fundraising event, whatever you do this International Men’s Day, make sure you enjoy it. The day is is meant to be fun and serious.

And remember if you are holding an event, please tell us at contact@ukmensday.org.uk so we can list it on our events page 

Please feel free to use the UK IMD logo (available here) for all of your publicity material and contact us for anymore information.

It’s your day to celebrate in the way you want to celebrate it. For men and women alike!

Please do also use social media (#internationalmensday):

Twitter:  @UKMensDay and #internationalmensday

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalMensDayUk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/international-mens-day-uk/