Funding from Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity will support dedicated men’s mental health sessions

Action Homeless are delighted to have received funding from Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity which will allow us to deliver a series of regular sessions for clients with mental health and wellbeing as their focus. Our new EmpowerMENt sessions will be delivered from our centrally located Engage Wellbeing Hub and will focus on men’s mental health; providing people with opportunities to increase their social contact in a safe space where they know they won’t be judged and in an environment which they trust.

At any given time, we have 230 individuals living with us, of which approximately 75% are male. Poor mental health is common amongst men who have experienced homelessness, with 63% of our target group affected.

The grant we have been awarded of £4,964 will allow us to deliver a years’ worth of consistent sessions, and we expect to see a mixture of regular attendees and new clients joining the sessions over this time.

Each session will be led by experienced support staff, and have a theme or activity which attendees can complete over conversation. Often people can find it difficult to engage with a formal, sit-down or round table discussion. However, a central activity which everyone can participate in can result in conversations around mental health happening organically and will give project beneficiaries the opportunity to try new things and develop skills and interests.

We will make use of the facilities at our Engage Wellbeing Hub, which has a Community Lounge area, kitchen and outdoor space. Activities will focus on both practical skills and wellbeing. We will include sessions on cookery, gardening and crafts, as well as walk and talks or a focus on hobbies and leisure. Initially we are aiming for attendees to get to know each other, but will adapt and finalise the programme of activities to suit the individual participants, with mental health and wellbeing as the focus.

As we gain greater knowledge around the interests and goals of participants, we will support them in accessing community volunteering opportunities which help them to further build their confidence and skills.