We need to heat our drop-in hub in the centre of Ryde on the Isle of Wight
by Men Only IOW in Ryde, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
We need to raise £2000 to keep the building warm over the winter months so we can welcome those looking for some company, some support or who wish to volunteer their time and experience to support what we do.
We are planning to open on Christmas day for those who may be alone or isolated over Christmas.
We have created a peer group proactively helping men find solutions to prevent them from experiencing poor mental health.
We are non-clinical and have lived experiences, so whilst we know we cannot fix people's problems, nor can we know what is suitable for everyone, we can attempt to help them consider self-healing, and we can stay with them on this journey with congruence, empathy and an unconditional, non-judgmental approach.
We have already had incredibly positive results from the men we have worked with; we have also had positive feedback from our community to help support our commitment to the project.
With a consistent and positive approach, we can gently encourage the many men in our community that are experiencing challenges to come and see us. We can guide them to set new, positive goals and let go of the past. With encouragement, they can move forward and create a new positive lifestyle, and we can help them create a personal and sustainable plan for the future that will give them and their life more meaning.
We have been allowed to use a building in the centre of Ryde. The Depository is a tremendous opportunity for us to create and grow a well-being centre for the men in our community and their families.
Having the premises right in the heart of Ryde and close to transport points and parking will help us provide a safe place for men to walk in, have a coffee and chat. We can offer to signpost, supporting the most vulnerable through processes many of us find challenging and may find impossible on our own. We will have two full-time staff and a small team of trained volunteers to support that growth.
In addition, we will have the space to provide group sessions, training courses, and 1:1 interaction. We will have a fantastic opportunity to grow our new programme, Saturday Superdads, by holding activity and craft sessions in a safe place for fathers and their children to spend time together and to learn and grow.
Opening The Men Only Wellbeing centre in Ryde will also be an opportunity to create a blueprint that will enable us to open up in other towns across the Island. In turn, we will support removing the stigma around poor mental health and creating a safe space to support a large community group.