GM Manbassadors: logo
We're on your side. When times get tough, Manbassadors are here for a chat.
Manbassadors is a men's mental health project first launched in Bolton in 2021. Since then, the project has expanded to support more men in Bolton, Wigan, Salford, and Stockport thanks to National Lottery Community funding * .
The project supports hundreds of men each year and aims to:
- Raise awareness of men's wellbeing and tackle high rates of male suicide.
- Grow a network of organisations acting as men's mental health advocates — Manbassadors — who look out for their customers, engage in conversations, and signpost them to further support where appropriate.
- Develop a local network of men's social and community activities, creating safe spaces for men to talk openly about their emotional wellbeing.
- Help men engage with other services that can support their mental health.
When things get tough, Manbassadors are here for a friendly chat.
If you'd like to know more about Manbassadors support available in your area, just tap one of the links below (Bolton, Wigan, Salford, and Stockport). You can also scroll down for more information on how the project works and how you can get involved.
*In 2024, the Manbassadors project was awarded £586k of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund — the largest community funder in the UK. You can tap here to learn more about The National Lottery Community Fund on their website.
Why is this project needed?
The Manbassadors project was launched in 2021 to help raise awareness of men’s wellbeing and tackle high rates of male suicide. Did you know that:
- One in six adults (over 16) are experiencing common mental health problems at any one time?
- In the UK, men are only around half as likely as women to access psychological therapies, and it’s also believed they are less likely to speak to family or friends about mental health issues?
- Every week, 125 people in the UK take their own lives?
- Three in four people who commit suicide are male?
- Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK?
Many of us will know of someone close to us who has suffered with their mental health. It might be your dad, your son, your brother, your uncle, your cousin, your friend, your teammate at work, or yourself.
Men traditionally don’t speak out and ask for help when they need it. We want you to know it’s okay not to be okay, you are not alone and support is out there for you. When things get tough, we look out for each other.
What is a Manbassador?
A Manbassador is a men’s health advocate. They look out for their customers, engage in conversations, and tell them about further support options where appropriate.
The aim of the Manbassadors project is to tackle high rates of male suicide and mental health issues. Our Manbassadors are reaching out to men with a simple intervention of an informal, bite-sized support delivered on a local level.
Whether you’re a nursery or a pub, a café or a barber, a gym, or a local takeaway — you can play your part by becoming a Manbassador**.
We also have sports clubs — including football, cricket, boxing, and wrestling — as well as community groups and charitable organisations signed up as Manbassadors.
If you’re a people-facing business, group, or organisation, you can become a Manbassador and look out for your customers/members, let them know they’re not alone, raise awareness of men’s mental health issues, and signpost them to further support where appropriate.
Manbassadors are the heartbeat to our men's mental health project. We're looking to recruit new businesses, groups, clubs, and organisations to help us connect with men who may need support.
**If you're interested in becoming a Manbassador, you can tap on the relevant link below to learn more about what it means to become a Manbassador in your area and how to get started.
Manbassadors projects are currently delivered in Bolton (Bolton at Home), Wigan (Wigan Council), Salford (Salix Homes), and Stockport (Stockport Homes).
Get support from or learn more about Manbassadors in your area
You can access support from Manbassadors if you’re a male aged 18 or over and live in one of the areas covered by the project.
Tap your area to get more information on the support available, as well as for details on how you can get involved with the project — either as an organisation or an individual.
You can also tap here to visit the Greater Manchester Manbassadors Facebook page, or tap here to visit the Greater Manchester Manbassadors LinkedIn page.
Adam Warbrick, Manbassadors Project Lead says:
“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 is why we started Manbassadors, and when we launched in Bolton during lockdown we were blown away by the response from within the community. I’m excited to bring it back bigger and better than before.
“The additional funding will allow us to provide more men in Bolton, Wigan, Salford, and Stockport with a safe environment to talk and offer support on a wider scale, whether that’s a kick around in the park or help accessing local services.”
More support is available
If you aren’t a male aged over 18, or if you aren’t living in one of the areas covered by the Manbassadors project, please remember that help is still available — whatever you're going through:
- If you need urgent help for your mental health, please tap here to visit the NHS website for details on mental health support services.
- For general non-emergency health advice, you can tap here to visit NHS 111 online, or you can call 111.
- If you need non-emergency access to the Police, call 101.
- You can tap here to visit the CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) website. CALM offer a helpline, webchat, and online guidance for a range of issues.
- You can tap here to visit the Shout website. Shout offer a free, confidential, and 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who may be struggling with their mental health.
- You can also tap here to find your nearest UCAN centre, where our friendly staff provide help with a little bit of everything — including health and wellbeing.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. You should attend your local NHS Accident & Emergency if you think you need urgent physical health care or require an urgent mental health assessment.