Hi, I’m Alan. I think men struggle to talk about their mental health; I know I do. I rarely talk about my anxiety with anyone, even those close to me, and when I do, they don’t understand if they are not going through it themselves. I'm not ready to talk about all my own stuff yet, but I hope to get to a place where I can and maybe help you to do the same. Walking and talking will help us get there. I want to do this. I’m going for it and don’t want to do it on my own, so take a big step and turn up! This walk will be a safe space to open up, chat, or just walk and have space - if you decide to talk you’ll be talking to others who get it - talk, listen, make a new friend, or just come for the company and escape for an hour … what have you got to lose? Same time, same place, every week. Just a steady-paced walk for around 1 hour, no pressure or judgement, walk shoulder to shoulder with men just like you. See you there!
Hi, my name's Matt and I’m proud to be the Bournville Walk Leader. I'm walking because men's mental health matters — more than we often admit out loud. For too long, many of us have been taught to stay silent, to "tough it out," or to carry our struggles alone. But silence doesn't make the weight any lighter. I'm walking to challenge that silence. This walk represents a commitment to honesty, vulnerability, and connection. It's a reminder that asking for help is not a weakness — it's courage. I want other men to know that it's okay to open up, to struggle, and to heal at their own pace. No one should feel they have to fight their battles alone. We walk together to remind every man: you're not alone. One step for strength, one step for support, one step for hope!
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!
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 Mike and I am the Walk Leader for Weston-super-Mare MWAT. I’m a dad of three; two girls and a boy. Mental health has always been a topic of real importance to me. I have been a director of my carpentry company for 23 years. Being a boss is not just paying the wages, it is supporting all staff (who are mainly men) within a very hard industry. I’m also Vice Chairman for the local Sea Cadet unit. As someone who has had my own challenges with mental health, it can be worrying or difficult to find the right line of support, but it’s been a really amazing experience to see the positive impact these walks have.
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.
I'm a dad of three boys, football mad, and involved with local football team. Always look for the positive in things, and love spending time with friends and family.
Hello, my name is Gordon. I am 39 years old (with the big 40 coming in August 2026), a dad to three children, and I live in Blyth, Northumberland, right on the seafront. I absolutely love it here. Nothing feels more like home than being by the sea. We are incredibly fortunate in Northumberland and often take for granted just how much is on our doorstep. From relaxed coastal walks to more challenging routes, open spaces and cracking views, there is so much to explore. One of my personal aims for 2026 is to experience more of what our county has to offer and, hopefully, to share some of those walks with others as part of Men Walking and Talking in Blyth. I have worked in the automotive industry for the past twelve years, and before that in hospitality. Like many men, my working life has involved pressure, deadlines and expectations, alongside the usual challenges that come with life outside of work. Over time, this has affected my mental health and also helped me to recognise how important it is to have space to talk, listen, and feel understood. I have made mistakes along the way. I have made poor decisions and, at times, hurt people I care about. Owning that has not always been easy, but it has taught me the value of honesty, accountability, and learning from others. Being able to talk things through, and just as importantly to listen, has helped me grow and continues to shape how I show up for myself and for others. In 2020, I lost my mum, and that experience changed me. I am still learning years on. I have also lost close friends in earlier years, which has further reinforced how important it is that men have places where they can simply turn up and not have to carry everything on their own. I came across Men Walking and Talking on Instagram and immediately respected what they stand for. When I realised there were no local walks in the North East, I got in touch, and that conversation led to the Blyth group being set up. There is no pressure to talk on our walks, and nothing is forced. You can walk quietly, listen, or speak if you feel like it. There is no judgement, no fixing, and no expectations. Just a group of men walking side by side, getting some fresh air, and taking a break from the noise of everyday life. Please feel free to drop me a message or simply turn up to one of the weekly walks. Everyone is welcome. I believe that walking side by side makes it easier to talk, to listen, and to realise we do not have to face life on our own.
Hi everybody, my name is Brian the reason why I would like to start a group with Men Walking And Talking is because I myself have mental health (EUPD and ADHD). I understand the vulnerabilities of why it can be hard for men to open up and find help. I would like to create a safe place for men to come and open up only if they want to, or just to listen, or just for company. There is no judgement, no preaching, just a comfortable safe place for us men to gather. Looking forwrad to seeing you all soon.
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.