Men's group hopes to ease strain on NHS services

"I want to tackle loneliness and we feel like this group can do that," the organisation's founder says.

The Moreton Men Sports Group in Suffolk has grown from a six-a-side football team to over 200 members, offering activities like yoga, football, and darts to combat isolation and mental health struggles. The NHS informally refers men to the group who don't need clinical intervention but would benefit from community support.

The Moreton Men Sports Group in Suffolk has grown from a six-a-side football team to over 200 members, offering activities like yoga, football, and darts to combat isolation and mental health struggles. The NHS informally refers men to the group who don't need clinical intervention but would benefit from community support.

A men's group offering sports and social activities is being informally referred by the NHS to support men who don't need clinical intervention but benefit from community support. The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) utilizes the group to address loneliness and provide a vital community link, potentially easing strain on NHS services by offering informal support. Founded to combat loneliness, the group engages men aged 17-52 through activities like yoga, football, and darts, fostering connection and conversation in a safe environment.

Pressure on mental health services across the UK is leaving many men without timely support when they need it most. As formal services come under increasing strain, informal men's groups, including community-based peer support groups, continue to grow. These groups remain poorly understood. New research by my colleagues and I on these groups in Wales shows that they could help fill an important gap in mental health support. We surveyed 30 men's wellbeing groups across Wales and found that these initiatives are thriving despite limited resources. More than 80% reported rising attendance, drawing in men of all ages, which suggests they may be responding to unmet demand. Most groups were volunteer-run and operated without public funding, which many highlighted as the biggest barrier to providing the group. Only 21% reported having any professionally qualified staff. Yet these groups offer men a space where they can turn up and talk without fear of judgment. Their informal environments often appeal to men who feel uncomfortable with clinical structures, assessments, diagnoses and formal appointments. Community groups help remove barriers that can deter men from seeking support and can create a trusting environment perceived as more 'male-friendly'.