Hi my name is Mike and I’m the Chester walk leader. I have been taking part in the Chester walks since the spring of 2022. It came about after my children left for university and my wife and I decided we would divorce. Overnight my world turned upside down and left me needing to rebuild. The Chester walks provide an opportunity to meet up with others and stay connected. They also provide an opportunity for mutual support where there is no judgement and a chance to be yourself. I was welcomed into the group by Mark the previous leader and I aim to offer the same warm and supportive welcome to anyone who would like to come along.
Hi, m y name is Barry and I am 44 years old and I am the Walk Leader for the Paisley Walk For the last 13 years I have had my issues leading to mental health problems. I’m twice divorced which really started it all for me and losing my dog of nearly 14 years and 2 close family members in the last 2 years has brought its struggles. I grew up loving football, watching and playing whenever I could. This was my happy place. But I found myself unable to get out the house to go a play amateur or even 5 a sides with friends. I was hugely frustrated at the gym. Getting out a walk by myself or with a friend or two really helped me take a breath and take a look at what was going on for me. I was lucky enough to work on a project that encouraged getting out into the outdoors to help build relationships within families, confidence and skill levels in children young people and adults and improving the mental health and wellbeing. Glencoe is my happy place but just a wander locally works a treat for me too. I made the move to start this group in Paisley because I believe it could work for so many men here. The west side of Scotland, men are notorious for keeping it in and just getting on with it. My aim is to build a safe community for men to come along and have a general chat, or get some things off their chest or just come along for the walk and get outside for a bit. Look forward to bide oot with you.
NEW WALK STARTING WEDNESDAY 11th MARCH 2026 We are Ian & Terry and we are the co-leads for the Cheltenham Men Walking & Talking Group. Our interest in men’s wellbeing comes from lived experience rather than theory. Mental health and emotional struggle have been part of our personal and professional journeys in different ways, and we’ve both seen how easily men can end up carrying heavy things quietly. Through family experiences, work, business, and life more broadly, we’ve learned that many men don’t lack strength, they lack space. Space to slow down, to be heard, or simply to be alongside others without pressure to explain or perform. Life can look fine on the outside while feeling very different on the inside. We don’t believe men need fixing or ready-made answers. We believe that some of the most important conversations happen side-by-side, outdoors, at walking pace. Sometimes talking helps. Sometimes listening helps. Sometimes just turning up is enough. Together, we co-host the Cheltenham Men Walking and Talking group. Our aim is simple: to create relaxed, welcoming walks where men can show up as they are, connect with others, and not feel they have to carry things alone.
My name is Ashley and I am the Walk Leader for Scarborough. After seeing a Men Walking And Talking group featured on the BBC, it was clear there was a real need to create something similar here in Scarborough. Through our family businesses at Stepney Hill Farm, we have supported many local groups and charities over the years. Our community gardens and the Stepney Hill Eco Project — delivered in conjunction with local veterans — have brought lasting benefits to a wide range of organisations. These include local junior schools and Woodland Academy, who regularly access the gardens and farm for educational visits throughout the year, learning about food, farming, and the environment. More recently, we have expanded this support by working with Gladstone Road Junior School and Woodland Academy to provide residential stays alongside farm tours and “field to fork” learning experiences. The Men Walking And Talking group is a natural and important extension of this community work. Creating a safe, welcoming space for men to walk, talk, and connect — especially in the evenings — plays a vital role in supporting mental health and wellbeing. This isn’t just a walk. It’s a weekly space to look forward to, to meet new people, build friendships, support one another, and remind ourselves that we don’t have to carry everything alone.
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.
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
Hi. My name is Stephen and I am the walk leader for Quinton. The men walking and talking idea was introduced to me by my father-in-law who attends another group. I thought this would be something good to be involved with. Generally, men don’t talk to each other about their feelings or emotions. However, once I had joined the a group in Quinton and spoke to other men my age and younger, I found that we all need to talk about what's on your mind and just unwind. We all have stresses and different things going on in our lives. It doesn’t matter how small, once spoken about it does help. Just even chatting about football, sport, whatever. After the group had disbanded, I started to think I should do something to get this group back up and running again. I'm sure that other members feel the same way also. This is why I’ve made it my mission to restart the group and hopefully reach out to more people with this message: you are not alone, and it’s okay to feel this way. We can meet up, have a chat, and have a pleasant walk at the same time.
Steve and Kevan are the walk leaders for Stratford. Bio for Steve. I work full time in adult social care and part-time for a few hours a week in the evenings and weekends doing support work. I’ve experienced my own mental health challenges and low points in my life particularly when going through difficult times including divorce, breakdown of relationships, losing my job, being unemployed, losing both my parents and a cancer diagnosis and treatment. I’ve also experienced the challenges poor mental health brings in both a close family and professional capacity, so I think it’s fair to say I’ve a good and varied understanding of it’s devastating and debilitating effects. Whenever I did hit a low mood, people close to me, especially partners, would often ask me “has something happened?” and “what exactly is getting you down?” to which the answer often was “no, nothing specific” and “I’ve absolutely no idea”! From nowhere the dark clouds and low mood would descend and I’d find myself in a dark place where every issue/problem in my life would overwhelm me. It took a while to find what works for me to combat the demons, but I’m now a big believer in self-help strategies and getting yourself out there, sharing your story and experiences with good people who are prepared to listen, learning from others and making positive changes in your life, however small and insignificant they might seem at the time. My philosophy is one day at a time and one brick at a time! Like others, having seen the growth in popularity of the Men Walking And Talking movement on Facebook, I reached out to Mark, one of the walk leaders and directors of MWAT, to ask if we could look into starting a group in Stratford-upon-Avon, the idea being to share this opportunity to other local men that perhaps have either not seen or been able to attend the other local groups for whatever the reason. A few months later after meeting Mark and Guy at the Warwick group, here we are, ready and raring to go! Please come and join us if you can; let’s walk, talk and support each other as well as ourselves! Bio for Kevan. I'm a retired project manager and aspiring author, recently returned to my hometown of Stratford after 23 years in Ottawa, Canada. I came back to reconnect with my family and rediscover my roots — I missed the place. I've lived with depression most of my life, though many wouldn’t know it. I became skilled at hiding it. My mental health struggles began around age five, when school bullying — physical and emotional — took its toll. That trauma made it hard to form friendships or consider relationships. I focused instead on work and stayed single, burying my pain. Over time, I made friends through work, but depression would still return in waves. During the darkest times, I’d isolate, using drugs or alcohol to numb the pain, pushing even family away. Things worsened after my mother passed from cancer — I came close to giving up entirely. A close friend from school helped pull me back from that edge, and I began to consider a future again. That’s when I moved to Canada — a chance to reset. My loved ones didn’t fully understand, but they hadn’t seen the struggle behind my smile. Canada offered a fresh start. I built a career, started my first relationship, and found some peace. But eventually, cracks appeared again. After a failed relationship and a deep spiral, I realized I needed help. Therapy was tough — it took four therapists and three years to find the right one. But it changed my life. Even after returning to the UK, we still talk regularly. With time, I began to unpack my past and reshape how I cope. Looking to connect locally, I discovered Men Walking and Talking (MWAT). I was nervous at first, but the group welcomed me warmly. I've attended weekly for five months now, and it’s made a real difference. I’ve made new friends and found a safe space to walk, talk, or just be. Please come along — connect with others, support your mental well-being, and enjoy the beauty of Stratford.
Hi, my name is Neil and I am the Walk Leader for Wells. I joined the Wells group in its first few weeks after my wife saw a social media post about it. The main reasons for me joining were driven by anxiety issues that I have suffered following some health problems, and also, as an opportunity to step off the daily treadmill of work, kids, domestic chores, sleep, and repeat!! The wells group has grown over the 19 or so months it’s been running and I am very proud to be part of something so amazing!!!
Hi, I’m Anthony. I’m 41, a husband and a dad, and I live and work in the North-East. By trade, I work in Learning & Development and I’m also a coach. But more importantly, I’m someone who’s seen first-hand how valuable it can be for men to have space to talk openly without pressure, judgement, or an agenda. Over the years I’ve navigated a few significant life challenges of my own, which have reinforced how important connection, perspective, and simply being able to speak honestly can be. This is especially the case for men who are used to getting their head down and thinking they should just battle on. I’m starting this Men Walking and Talking group because there isn’t currently one based centrally in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and I really believe there’s value in creating something local and accessible. These walks aren’t about fixing problems or giving advice. They’re about getting outside, walking side by side, and creating a relaxed space where conversation can happen naturally, or where silence is just as welcome. I’ll be there to facilitate the walk, help create a welcoming atmosphere, and make sure everyone feels comfortable. Nothing more complicated than that.
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.
I've lived in this area for the last 10 years and now very much call it my home - I love the community and countryside here. I've always been interested in being outdoors, mainly through taking part in sport, which has helped with me mental wellbeing as well as my fitness, which has gone up and down over the years! I started to understand the power in simply walking and talking during COVID and have walked ever since. I have done various bits of self development in men's work over the years, where I have come to realise that connecting with others in nature is something that can really help. I am up for leading this walking group, to continue building connections with others, for me and others in this and the surrounding communities in South Oxfordshire. None of us can know who we'll meet or what could come from it, but I know many men share concerns about getting out, meeting people and just talking!