My Croydon‑born wife lured me to South London with the promise of her mum’s excellent cooking. But what actually won me over were Croydon’s green spaces and its surprisingly beautiful edges that spill into the Surrey Hills. Becoming a father has been an incredible new chapter for our family, but it also tested my mental resilience in ways I didn’t expect. For the first time in my life, I found myself struggling with anxiety. With my wife’s support, I carved out one quiet ritual: a weekly walk in nature. Those walks brought me a sense of peace and helped me build a deeper relationship with the land around me. Talking to friends also helped, and saying the worries out loud made them feel just a little lighter. I hope our walks can offer the same sense of relief and connection to men from all walks of life, helping us breathe a little deeper, feel a little stronger, and carry our loads with a little more ease.
Hi, my name is Si and I am the walk leader for Crewe MWAT. Reason for the group, I've struggled with making friends as an adult male and also struggled with my physical health due to stomach issues and fibromyalgia. I quit drinking in 2012 and my social circle disappeared. I want to create something for men in my town that brings us together and gets us to help each other more. I love walking and used to hike miles in my youth so when I saw the success of MWAT in Sandbach I knew this was something I wanted to get involved in. I don't drive and therefore have no access to other groups near me, so I reached out to start one in Crewe. Thank you
I'm Jon, Walk Leader for Dereham. I've always had a passion for walking, having grown up on a Wiltshire Farm. After 7 years in the RAF as a communications engineer, working in Search and Rescue and overseas, I moved into engineering manufacturing. I kept my outdoor passion going by training as a course director and mountain guide for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Unfortunately, my mental health took a dive when I lost my mum back in 1974 whilst serving in Cyprus during the Turkish invasion. I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. I didn't get much help from the MOD, so I decided to find help myself. I found support much later from two amazing British Army veterans. I then decided to leave my safe Job in corporate and started my own business in 1989. That year, the interest rate hit 17.5%, and I was forced into liquidation. I had to return to the rat race again. To cut a long story short, I left corporate again in 2004 and retrained as a therapist. In 2010, I lost a close friend to brain cancer; she was my business partner and just 52 with 2 kids, which triggered my PTSD again, and resulted in me having a breakdown. I then found a great team of private therapists who guided me back. At 65 (now 70) I was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia, which made a lot of sense. Walking with my wife and 2 dogs is my way of staying grounded. We have only just moved into the area. I immediately joined the Dereham Men Walking and Talking group, deputising for Steve, the founder and leader of our group. Steve is taking some time off, so I have stepped in as leader. We are a very new group and are steadily building the numbers. We are all loving it.
Have you ever felt lonely or sad but didn’t know the reason why? Have you ever felt that you’re struggling with normal everyday responsibilities like just getting up and going to work? Have you ever felt guilty for feeling that way? Have you ever felt too anxious about opening up to others and about how they might react to you doing so, and therefore you keep it all bottled up inside? Me too! Hi, my name is Dan and I’m the walk leader for Dover MWAT Like many other walk leaders within MWAT, I’ve struggled with my own mental health at times and in 2025 I made the decision to step away from the type of work that I’d done for more than 25 years and started training to become a Humanistic Counsellor. I’m not due to quality until 2028 but I’ve become passionate about people’s mental health, particularly men’s. I am increasingly disappointed in the culture in which we live whereby men aren’t encouraged to talk honestly about their experiences, feelings, and struggles for fear of being judged by those closest to them and by society in general. That’s why I chose to start a walk in my local area of Dover – which also happens to be the first (but hopefully not the last) in the whole of the County of Kent. My aim is simply to provide a space for men to be able to share what’s on their mind without the fear of being judged. If you’d rather not chat or you’re looking for companionship, then that’s also completely fine. Either way, it’s an opportunity to get some fresh air and to get in some of those steps that we all keep getting told that we need – I know I certainly do! If any of that sounds like what you’re looking for, please do come along and join me and the group.
Hi. My name is Danny and I am the walk leader for the Droitwich group of MWAT. I first came across MWAT on social media while I was looking for some local support and have followed them for some time. Having struggled for many years I understand all too well how isolated and alone it can feel. In more recent years I’ve come to realise the importance of talking and learnt that a lot more men are effected than I realised. I decided to make the step to set up a Droitwich MWAT group to give other men like myself an opportunity to talk with like minded people and create a local support network so nobody feels lonely and isolated. Meeting for just one hour every week could make all the difference. Let’s normalise talking about these things and make sure everyone knows that it’s ok to not be ok!! Look forward to seeing you soon!
NEW WALK STARTING MONDAY 27th JULY 2026 My name is Rod and I am Ellesmere born and bred, so I know a lot about the history of the town and know a lot of people in the area. I have struggled with my own mental health over the last 2-3 years but with the help of my wife, Jo, and friends, I have come out the other side. I passed my mental health first aid and joined the Mental Health Motorbikes so I can help others where they need it or in their hour of need. I feel that I'm giving back. I'm a good at listener and like meeting new people. I have found that walking helps me, especially with my dogs. They listen to some of my troubles, but they always make me feel better. My hobbies are fishing out in the peace and quiet, walking my dogs, and my get away is the motorbike. That's something about me and I look forward to listening to you on the walk.
My name is James and I am a forty something Dad of two who is born and bred in Cambridgeshire. I have struggled with my mental health since I was 15, when my only sibling passed away from cervical cancer. I found it so difficult to process and it was several years before I started to come to terms with my loss. It wasn't until I had a mental breakdown at work in 2006, that I sought out counselling. In early 2011 I had a further mental breakdown after a long term relationship broke up. By the summer of 2011, I started a new job working in social care, this is where my life started to change. By the end of 2011, I met my now Wife and my mental health improved and I started to enjoy life again. My work is so rewarding and is an amazing therapy for me mentally, but is also physically and mentally demanding supporting Adults with Learning Disabilities. I first began walking during lockdown, as work became unbearable at times, due to the extra demands, supporting vulnerable adults through their own worries and concerns, as well as my own concerns, worries and restrictions, it was a mental rollercoaster. I found walking such a release, like a valve being released in my head and all my worries drifted away during my walks. During the second lockdown I took training to become one of the mental health champions within the workplace. Over the past four years I have organised walks for people I support, charities that our close to my heart such as the Down's Syndrome Association with other carers and SEN parents such as my myself. I was inspired by the short film on the One Show by Men Walking and Talking. After discovering that there weren't any groups nearby, I felt inspired to contact Men Walking and Talking about leading a local group in my area of Ely Cambridgeshire. I enjoy meeting new people, chatting about anything or nothing in particular and I love to walk. The walk is called Ely Cathedral, Cherry Hill Loop and cover 3.1 miles, takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. https://www.komoot.com/tour/2532994763?ref=aso&share_token=aEFGpL0MoSwefyQKWJeHY8y2YL9MIIjdupucOJ1pPIda6h2PtB&fbclid=IwY2xjawMi2i9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBKdzNrREtxSVc5dmxNWVNrAR4pbn4p9kvZaK5ZN633u9pCJK4_0jtx7dnh9Ar1wg2-pD71DdV31L3W9IAnjA_aem_PjkbCjczkT1CL361ci2Inw It starts and finishes at ERly Barton Road Car Park, which is free.
I’m Craig, the Walk Leader for Evesham. I’m a teacher working with young people with autism and anxiety. As an outdoors enthusiast, I grew up camping and have a love for all sorts of walking, camping, and just being outside, and this was a saviour during the lockdowns. I’ve had a tough few years myself with various challenges but found that talking really did help me, and so finding MWAT was the perfect fusion for me. I look forward to meeting you on one of our walks and listening to your stories.
Hi, my name is Paul and I am the walk leader for the Falmouth MWAT group. I am ex military and have been a volunteer for Cornwall Search and Rescue Team. I am a keen outdoor enthusiast and walk leader for many years. I work for the National Trust and volunteer for the South west coast Path association and lead walks for both organisations. During the past two years I have been involved with several organisations who have clients with mental health issues and I have been taking them on guided walks. The walks don't really have to be all that long. It's all about getting people outside in nature and the fresh air, enjoying the scenery, talking and listening. I have really noticed a big difference in the groups since they started these walks. I am very passionate about mental health and encouraging men to speak openly about their experiences and challenges they have had. I saw MWAT on social media and thought it would be a great thing to start a group. I look forward to meeting you in Falmouth for a walk and talk. All the best Paul Onen Hag Oll
NEW WALK STARTING WEDNESDAY 22nd JULY 2026 Hi, I'm Clive, a certified NLP Practitioner, Coach, and Mental Health First Aider . I'm passionate about supporting men's wellbeing and creating a non-judgemental space where men can connect, talk, and support one another. Outside of work, I enjoy walking, hiking, and martial arts, and I understand the positive impact that getting outdoors and having good conversations can have on both mental and physical health. As a Men Walking and Talking Walk Leader, I look forward to welcoming men from all backgrounds to join us for a walk, a chat, and some fresh air.
Hi, my name is Anthony and I am the Walk Leader for Great Ayton. I don’t have much of a story to tell when it comes to the reasons I’ve struggled with my mental health in the past. There's been no obvious triggers, no traumatic life events... just a quiet sadness that sometimes creeps over me, unannounced. I’ve hidden my struggles with my mental heath since being a teenager, from anxiety attacks to bouts of depression. I felt guilty for being sad or lonely when I "didn't have anything to be sad about". What I do know is that I usually struggle with it alone because I never found a way to share my feelings with the people around me. It’s often easier to share your struggles with a stranger than those you love. No matter how supportive our loved ones are, it can be easier to open up if there's no expectation, no pressure to be okay. Or maybe you don't feel like you have anyone to talk to. You feel lonely in a sea of strangers. I want to start a group so that every week, no matter what might have happened (or not happened), you can find people willing to listen or even just be another person to spend some time with for some quiet companionship. It’s very easy to feel isolated and alone so I want to be a friendly face for people who might just need that moment of connection or understanding.
My name is Jason, I'm a local councillor and volunteer when I'm not working as a project manager/SysAdmin/Developer. Keeping busy is important to me. I run a Sunday litter picking group, I volunteer at parkrun on Saturday, and I work in the community with various groups. Being active, breathing in fresh air, getting some daylight, and talking to people are all good for mental health. That's what I want to encourage.
Mens Network lists 295 groups for men interested in support across the UK. Each listing is a real group you can contact directly — some are beginner-friendly and welcome a turn-up trial session, others are established clubs for regulars.
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