Hi, my name is Olly and I'm the Stourport leader of MWAT. I first became aware of MWAT via Facebook in winter 2022 as it sparked interest due to my mental health background and my hobby of walking. I have been involved with the Stourport walk since then and have thoroughly enjoyed making friendships from the group. As my daytime job is being a mental health practitioner, along with the joy of listening to people's stories, I thought MWAT was a great fit to me during my spare time. I am big into the outdoors and walking, so if you have a story to share, I'd be more than up to listening to it. I look forward to seeing you
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.
There are two groups a month: Fortnightly Saturday 10.30am – 12.30pm Fortnightly Thursday 9:30am – 11:30am Group Facilitator: Paul https://www.instagram.com/pandassudbury Entrance Our Space Paul Why did Paul want to start his group? – I started the group because I wanted to provide a safe place for parents to come and talk freely about what they are going through without the feeling of shame, etc. Where is the building? – The building is a single-story ‘Family Hub’ where parents can visit a health visitor, attend groups, and obtain information about any parental matters. It’s situated next to Ormiston Academy on Tudor Road. To access it from the main road, enter the school’s parking area and drive around as if you are leaving. There is a sign on the wall to the left, directing you up a ramp and around the back of The Vineyard Centre. At present, the brand new school are using the site beyond The Phoenix Centre, so the car park has been reduced to a handful of spaces along the fence line of the building site.. There isn’t public transport directly to The Phoenix Centre, but there is a bus stop at the bottom of York Road, meaning that you can walk up York Road to a footpath which takes you to The Phoenix Centre. How do I gain access to the building? – To gain access to the building, there is a large silver button on the external wall near the door, which opens the sliding door and is also used to exit from the inside. There are no steps, and it is wheelchair/buggy-friendly. To find our group in the building, watch this video 👉 here I feel nervous and still not sure if the group is for me . – The group is very laid-back, and there is no pressure to discuss anything you don’t want to. You are welcome to stay for as long or as little as you like. Being someone who has gone through the same process and had the same feelings, I am able to understand what it is like.
Meeting the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month from 9.30 – 11.30 Group facilitators: Amy & Victoria Entrance Our space Victoria 1. What inspired you to start your group ? – There has been a PANDAs group at the Children’s Centre for many years. The opportunity to take over facilitating the group became available in 2023. We had both seen how valuable the group was to the people who access it and wanted to continue providing a calm, empathetic space for those who needed it. 2. What does the building look like? How will I know I’m in the right place? – Swansea Children’s Centre is a welcoming community hub based in Penlan on a shared site with Clwyd Community Primary. When entering the car park, walk or drive down the path, the Children’s Centre is the building on the right. Next to the steps down to the Children’s, there is a wooden signpost to point you down the steps or the ramp. 3. Is there parking or public transport nearby? – The Children’s Centre has its own car park. The gates to the carpark are locked for short periods of time between 8.40-9.00 am and 11.05-30am to allow the children who attend the school to enter and exit the site safely. There are local bus services 25, 28 that will stop around a 5 or 10-minute walk from the Children’s Centre. 4. Any doors, buttons, or steps I should know about? – The building can be accessed by ramp or steps. 5. Where can buggies be left, and are there toilets/changing facilities? – There are spaces where buggies can be left. There is a dedicated baby changing area and toilets available. 6. What’s the atmosphere like when I walk in? What should I do when they walk in? – When you walk through the automatic doors of the children’s centre, the PANDAs’ pop-up banner is in the foyer. The reception area of the Children’s Centre can be quite busy at times, as there are other groups, wrap-around childcare, and Flying Start all housed within the centre too. However, all the staff a lovely and are happy to help, so just ask us at reception if you are unsure. When you enter the building, sign in and tell one of the lovely receptionists, who will be surrounded by flowers, that you are here for PANDAs. If you feel anxious about entering the building, drop us a message on social media, or ring the children’s centre, and one of us will meet you in reception.