I’m Ricky. I work full time in hospitality and I’m a part time poet and volunteer mentor with Lads Need Dads.

I was raised to believe boys should bury their feelings. I now believe in speaking up and speaking out. My intention with my work is to encourage this in others, particularly in men and boys.

I’ve been a Lads Need Dads mentor since September 2021 and I’ve throughly enjoyed witnessing the positive changes in the boys that have taken part in the programmes and playing a small part in that.

I’m looking forward to starting as a reader mentor in Spring 2023 and I hope that my love for reading and the spoken word will inspire other boys and help both increase their interest in reading and their emotional literacy.