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Wolverhampton: Combining recreational activities and mental health support
Funding has been provided to a grassroots charity to run a project aimed at supporting men’s mental health. Hikes and sports sessions are combined with talking therapy-based work. More than 200 men are now involved after scheme launched less than 18 months ago.
The City of Wolverhampton Council has invested £10,000 in a grass roots charity aimed at improving the mental health of men. Mandem Meetup was originally launched in Manchester, providing a combination of recreational activities and talking therapies to men.
Off the back of its success there, the council used funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund to help kick-start the charity’s work in Wolverhampton after spotting them in a documentary where they were giving back to the community.
The project is run by two local men, Jamie Lewis and Christian Denton, who had originally got involved in some of the activities in Manchester. They run monthly hikes, weekly football sessions and Workin/Workout which combines gym work with mindfulness as well as regular talking therapy-based sessions. The Wolverhampton project was only launched in January 2023, but by May 2024 already had more than 200 members and over 800 attending.
‘Breaking the cycle’
Mr Lewis, 40, who has struggled with alcoholism in the past, said the idea is about creating a “safe space for men to show up as their authentic selves, without judgement or expectation”.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by how much need and interest there is out there. Men are really struggling. We have people coming to us who have all sorts of different struggles. Poor mental health and wellbeing, being a major factor. Some have financial problems, some relationships problems, while others are gambling and drinking too much.
“They are worried, anxious and depressed, but many simply would not think about using a traditional mental health service. What we provide is peer-led support. They know they will not be judged, because everybody has been in the same boat.
“Sometimes it is simply about breaking a cycle. Some are spending too much time in the pub or at the bookies. Others have become isolated. The weekly Workin/Workout is very popular At the gym sessions we do things like weights, circuits and boxing followed by a session based around reflection or mindfulness these interventions are giving the men new tools to be able to deal with the stress and strains of life.”
For those who want it, there is a taking therapy group session called Talking Circle. It is hosted by Mr Lewis and Mr Denton who have had training and is held in a community venue two times a month, but one of the monthly hikes – the one held locally at The Wrekin - also acts as a talking therapy session. The other hike is done in different locations with the Manchester Mandem Meetup group.
‘A little bit of help goes a long way’
The money from the council is used to fund things like equipment, clothing, transport and food. A number of men have been bought walking shoes and waterproofs so they can take part in the hikes. It has also been used to help those in financial difficulties.
Mr Lewis said: “One man was at risk of losing his home because he got into rent arrears. We helped him pay the bill as a one off – and he has gone from strength-to-strength since then and is now five months sober after years of drinking. Sometimes the men we work with just need a little help to get over a particular problem or someone to give them a bit of support and confidence.”
The project has also paid for some of the clients to do training courses. “There was one man who we helped get a training certificate for a security job,” Mr Lewis said. “He is now in full-time work and has started his own company which is going from strength to strength.”
The group promotes itself on social media via Facebook and Instagram as well as relying on word of mouth. When men want to get involved, they are added to the project’s WhatsApp group – there are also separate WhatsApp groups for those interested in things such as books, fitness and music.
Mr Lewis said: “The WhatsApp groups are a real support. Men share their problems and discuss what they are interested. Some men are ready to get involved straightaway, while others will just sit back for a bit and watch. We had one man who was on the group for six months and did not participate, but he said it was just nice being part of a community.”
The council is delighted with the impact the project is having. Financial Wellbeing Service Manager Kate Lees said: “This is great example of prevention. Many of these men without this upstream support would end up needing help from formal services – housing, mental health or addiction. “This kind of support stops them getting to that stage and that in turn is saving services huge amounts of money as well as being better for the individual.
“We’ve purposely let Mandem Meetup get on with it, we haven’t given them targets or anything like that. Mandem Meetup is doing something that statutory services would struggle to do – but they know if one of their clients does need some formal support we can help get them into the services they need.
“We are now looking to provide them with more funding from the Household Support Fund with the idea of ensuring they become completely self-sustainable in the future and have a presence long-term.”