Matthew White is a member of the church of St Peter and St Paul in Rock. He has set up Men United, a social enterprise set up as a CIC (Community Interest Company), to support men who are struggling with their mental health.
The charity runs 13 different peer support group sessions which men who feel they are struggling with their mental fitness and wellbeing can come along to drink tea, eat biscuits and feel valued and heard as they share any concerns they might have.
Matthew said: “One of my friends lost his son to suicide aged just 22 and I really felt that I needed to try to do something that might stop others getting to this crisis point. I have worked for the past 15 years a job coach/life skills advisor and mentor after having my own struggle with my mental fitness and felt that I had the contacts and the experience to establish somewhere that could be a safe space for men, who are generally poorer at speaking about their mental health.”
Men United now has a team of people who host peer group support sessions in different locations across Worcestershire. These are completely free to attend and there is no need to book. Men might be signposted to a group from another service, but it is important that they come of their own volition. The charity has received grant funding from the local council, a housing association and companies which have social responsibility funds. The team is starting to offer mindfulness and workplace support to employers, the money charged for which is also used for the free sessions.
“In my paid job I work with lots of people who are not in education training or employment, but Men United is not just for those who don’t work, but for anyone who is struggling. The key principle is offering kindness and a listening ear to anyone who might need it. It takes a lot of bravery for men to come in through the door and once they’re with us, we aim to build a brotherhood with everyone wanting to make life better for those we are journeying with,” continued Matthew.
Matthew’s faith has played a significant role in his decision to set up the charity. “My faith is intrinsically knitted in to all that I do,” he said. “There are lots of profound links between the bible and today’s society and my faith has been a guiding light and anchor in my desire to make someone else’s situation a bit better. Our vicar, Sallie Butcher, has also been a real support. Although Men United is not an explicitly Christian organisation, we do aim to show God’s love through everything that we do.”
Matthew would be keen for churches to help spread the word about the peer support sessions run by Men United, planting the seed with men who might find these helpful. As the charity grows and provides more sessions, there will be a need for more volunteers and they are looking for additional trustees with a rural background.
“We have lots of ideas of how we might develop the service further, potentially working with schools to inform and educate at a much earlier age,” said Matthew. “There is such a need out there - men’s mental health has seen a steady deterioration over recent years and our charity aims to take a long term approach, trying to bring hope for a better tomorrow.”
Find out more about Men United at: https://men-united.co.uk/
