In conversations across the county, I’ve noticed men’s wellbeing becoming more of a hot topic. At the same time, mental health can be a subject that men tend to avoid, despite needing to discuss it just as much as everybody else. The local pub used to be the go-to catch-up space for men to share their troubles but this has fallen away somewhat as men have moved away from alcohol and the pub industry has faced its own challenges. The world has also changed massively since the pandemic – it is slightly frightening to see how much it has isolated people. To counter this isolation, we need to reunite people, strengthen our communities and bring back some of the good things we used to appreciate in life.
CORE Men’s Community Network is a wellbeing project created by Worcester Community Trust that organises regular men’s only groups across the county. Our project provides a consistent base for men to check in with their community, offering a free cuppa and a chat along with opportunities to engage in small projects, crafts, activities and games. The environment in the groups is welcoming, non-judgmental and supportive. At the same time, they are very informal - there is no pressure to open up or actively engage in the conversation. The project was launched with a small team in June 2024 with the goal of bringing men out of isolation and reconnecting our communities. So far, we have reached more than 150 men across Worcestershire.
