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Meet some of our Manbassadors and see the power in community #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
"Many of us will know someone who suffers with their mental health; it could be your dad, son, brother, a friend or even yourself. That's why we started Bolton Manbassadors"
...says Adam Warbrick, Bolton at Home, Community Development Officer.
This year, Mental Health Awareness Week is focusing on the power of community. Having a strong community helps improve mental health because when we are part of a community or network, we can connect with others. This can help boost confidence, provide us with people to talk to and helps with the challenges of everyday life.
Manbassadors, an award-winning mental health project delivered by Bolton at Home has become a vital lifeline for men struggling with their mental health since it launched during the pandemic.
It provides feelings of connection, with one Manbassador saying, “I can sense when someone is feeling low. As a Manbassador, I feel able to take the next step and offer advice if a person is open to it. The conversations we’re having are giving men a chance to break down their own barriers and seek help.”
Manbassadors transforms everyday locations — barbers, gyms, pubs, and cafes — into local mental health ambassadors, bringing support to the places men already go to. This innovative programme has created comfortable locations where men can speak openly about their mental health.
The project also works to build safe, social spaces where men can talk and connect. You can tap here to see what’s on by visiting the ‘Bolton Manbassadors in the Community’ Facebook page.
Since it started, Bolton Manbassadors has:
- supported more than 600 men across Bolton;
- recruited 84 local businesses as mental health advocates;
- raised £24,000 to fund community activities;
- won Campaign of the Year at the UK Housing Awards in 2022;
- been named a finalist in the Heart of the Community category at the 2024 Bolton News Business Awards.
The project is set to expand beyond Bolton into Salford, Stockport, and Wigan this year after securing an impressive £586,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund.
If you're interested in finding out more about Manbassadors, contact Adam Warbrick 07787 337474, tap here to follow Bolton Manbassadors on Facebook, or visit www.boltonathome.org.uk/manbassadors. This webpage also includes signposts to other organisations and charities that can help if you aren’t a male aged over 18.
Alternatively, you can visit www.mentalhealth-uk.org for more information and support. Mental Health UK is a UK-based charity dedicated to supporting everyone’s mental health and wellbeing.
Meet some of our newest Manbassadors:
