Men's walking group shares life-changing stories

A walking group that aims to create a safe space for men to open up about their mental health now operates across the UK and a has launched new book.

Men Walking & Talking was created by Dan Reid in Telford in 2021, and now has 35 groups across 16 counties.

Walks are run by leaders who give other men a space to talk about what they are facing in their day-to-day lives, each walk has meetup times and a start location and people can turn up without booking.

The book, which comes out on Friday, includes a series of stories from men about how the group changed their lives and had a positive impact.

All profit from the book will go towards running the walking groups.

Mr Reid said there were no restrictions on those taking part in walks, just an expectation that "you'll listen and be open and honest and you can speak as much or as little about your mental health as you want to".

He said: "That lack of expectation and that role-modelling from other people makes men more comfortable to open up."

He said men who had taken part had said the experience had changed their lives.

"So many people are isolated now, isolated and lonely, and a lot of guys say to us, oh we build our week around that walk," he said.

"They know every Tuesday or every Wednesday, they know that they're going to see 10, 11 or 20 people who have had similar experiences and just want to help each other."

He said the project had changed his own life in "a huge way"

"If you'd spoken to me four or five years ago, I wouldn't even speak about my mental health let alone talk about this on a regular basis and run almost 40 groups now around the country, which have an impact on men in the community.

"It's changed my life in a massive way and in such a positive way as well."

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