Jordan Stephens returns to Brighton for event exploring pressures facing young men

Amnesty International UK is launching a new live event series in Brighton on 25 June with musician, writer and mental health advocate Jordan Stephens.

He’ll be leading a conversation about the pressures facing young men today and how stronger communities can help create positive change.

Change The Record: In Conversation with Jordan Stephens takes place on Thursday 25 June at The Old Market in Hove. It’ll bring together Stephens and a panel of guests for an honest discussion about wellbeing, identity, belonging and the social and economic challenges shaping the lives of young men.

Stephens is best known as one half of chart-topping duo Rizzle Kicks. He grew up in Brighton after moving to the city as a child. And he attended a local youth club closely connected to The Old Market.

Ben Hurst, director of facilitation at Beyond Equality, will host the event. It’ll also feature youth sector leader Adam Muirhead and Yunus El-Asri, founder of Young Muslims in Politics.

Together they’ll explore the impact of loneliness, online influences, economic insecurity and shrinking community spaces. And they’ll discuss how young men can play a positive role in building happier, healthier and fairer communities.

The evening marks the beginning of a new Amnesty initiative creating space for young men to come together, challenge division and explore the social and economic pressures shaping their lives – from insecure work and housing to cuts to youth services and community support.

Jordan Stephens – ‘all men are feeling it’

Stephens said:

There’s a lot being said about young men right now, and much of it feels negative, polarised or stuck. This conversation is about honesty, connection and figuring out how men and boys can show up differently for ourselves, each other, and our communities.

Not all men are the problem, but all men are feeling it – the algorithms pushing division, the isolation, the daily grind of economic pressure. It’s important to come together to reflect and work out what we can do to make our communities happier, healthier and fairer for everyone.

Audiences will also hear more about Amnesty’s developing work with young men. And there’ll be opportunities to get involved locally following the discussion.

After the event, attendees are invited to continue conversations informally at the venue bar with organisers, guests and community groups.

Stephens is an artist, actor and author whose memoir Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak & Dogs became a Sunday Times bestseller. Alongside his music career with Rizzle Kicks, Stephens has become a leading voice on masculinity and mental health. He recently fronted Channel 4 documentary Hunting My Sextortion Scammer and is co-host of the podcast Miss Me?.

Ben Hurst is director of facilitation at Beyond Equality. The organisation works with men and boys to help create safer and more equitable communities. Over the past decade, Beyond Equality has facilitated conversations with young people, educators, organisations and community groups across the UK and beyond.

Change The Record is Amnesty International UK’s platform for musicians, artists and the wider creative industry to champion and protect human rights. The initiative brings together artists, fans and cultural leaders to resist division and use creativity as a force for freedom and social change.

Event Information

Change The Record: In Conversation with Jordan Stephens, 8pm-9.45pm, Thursday 25 June 2026.

The Old Market, 11A Upper Market Street, Brighton and Hove, BN3 1AS.

Get tickets here.

Featured image via the Canary

By The Canary

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