I would like to introduce to you Darren Moss, joint publican of the Soar Bridge Inn.

Darren, and Lucy his partner, had already had the idea of setting up a men’s walk and talk group (The Man Walk) before they took on the running of the pub. Darren had experienced some really tough times himself and knew how helpful it can be to share worries and anxieties with a sympathetic listener. He also knew that too many men have been brought up as children with the “stiff upper lip: put up and shut up” mentality. As grown adults, that can result in a deep reluctance to express their feelings.

Before he led the first Man Walk, he contacted Radio Leicester and was able to describe his plans on air. He arranged to meet up in the pub car park on the first Saturday. 19 men turned up – it was a welcome and successful idea. The following month, he announced the next Man Walk on Facebook and this time, 26 men arrived. Now, he leads a walk of about 5km from the car park of the Soar Bridge on the first Saturday of every month starting at 1pm. Numbers average 25 and the men who come really do natter about anything and everything, including their own mental health. And they also listen. One chap comes because, “I work entirely with women; my family are all women. I welcome the opportunity to interact occasionally with men!” Another is mad keen on sport and particularly on supporting Coventry Football team. What he gets from the Man Walk is the company of some like-minded enthusiasts. Kyle took his own life. Now, five of his extended family come along regularly and are greatly helped by having a forum in which they can talk together about their emotional responses to this tragedy.

Darren is happy to talk to the men who turn up but he wants me to stress that he is not trained and cannot give professional help. What he can do is point individuals in the direction of the Syston and Loughborough Mental Health cafés. These are drop-in centres for anyone to come and talk to trained staff about their mental health – with no appointment needed.

The Syston café is open on Thursdays, 12 noon – 3pm in The Old School Room, Syston Community Centre, School Lane, Syston, LE7 1HN. Phone: 07752 183 044. Tracy Pollard, who runs the café says, “We wanted to create a unique café, combining a welcoming, safe space for socialising, and a confidential area for individual support, where people can feel calmer and more confident about getting the help they need locally. Our rural Coffee-Connect barista coffee van will attend each session, offering free hot drinks to anyone who comes along – a warm drink and a listening ear go a long way in helping people feel more supported and positive about their future”.

The Loughborough café opens on Mondays and Fridays, 5pm – 10.30pm (latest arrival 10pm) at Asha House, 63 Woodgate, Loughborough LE11 2TZ The cafe can be contacted via leicestershire.helpline@turning-point.co.uk and provides “a safe supportive space and a range of activities to support people's mental health in Charnwood and beyond”.

Barrow Voice also hopes to report in the Christmas edition on the relationship that is being forged between Barrow Town Football Club and the Lift the Weight Football Club. 

Members of Lift the Weight Club are all somehow involved in mental health issues. They arrange friendly matches as a way of engaging with and supporting players who have serious problems.
So, while the NHS Mental Health services may be woefully inadequate, it is good to know that local volunteers are stepping forward to offer some valuable help and support. Barrow Voice says, “Thank you to Darren; thank you to the men who join the walk and talk sessions for listening as well as talking; thank you to the volunteers who run the cafes; and thank you to Barrow Town for joining forces with Lift the Weight Football Club.”

Judith Rodgers