Community Catalyst supports men's group

A new men’s group has been put on a sure footing and can now expand and recruit members after working with an Oxfordshire County Council-funded community catalyst.

Charlbury Men’s Group was set in motion after the town’s medical centre’s patient participation group thought it would be a good idea to help men open up more about health-related matters. The group has a core membership but turned to community catalyst Anita Wingad for support and to encourage more men to get involved.

The community catalyst role helps groups realise their ideas and ambitions as well as providing business support like DBS checks and help with financial recording.

The market town of Charlbury sits on the edge of the Cotswolds and near the council boundary and is a perfect example of residents helping each other to prevent both physical and mental illnesses which is part of the The Oxfordshire Way.

Patient participation group member and long-time resident Alan Jenkins said: “Men are notoriously bad at talking about things that relate to them.

“The people I've met through the group have all been long-term residents of Charlbury, but our paths had never crossed until we met through the men's group.”

Member Simon Walker is also a trustee of Charlbury's community workshop, which has a meeting room where the group sometimes meets, and a workshop fully equipped by donations from the local community.

He said: “It’s about men feeling comfortable with each other and doing something they like that takes the focus away from what is actually bothering them.

“I think the important foundation of everything we are trying to do with the group and in the workshop is to provide somewhere where men can talk, share ideas with other people and get support about things they might be reticent to discuss.

“It is very much a safe environment for people to talk and just be with each other.”

Hannen Beith has taken on the role of administrator, organising all the documentation, training and administration needed to make the group safe and legally compliant, and has enlisted the help of community catalyst Anita Wingad. The group had its first meeting 15 months ago and began with just three participants. 

Mr Beith said: “Anita has been so helpful in making sure all the governance is in place.

“We get together at different times of the day to accommodate different schedules and invite people in to talk, but it’s very informal. That is what we thought would work best.

“But we have struck up friendships with each other when we didn’t know one another, despite having lived here for many years. It’s about friendships, and from that, conversations become easier.”

Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “This is a great example of local people using their energies and talents to deliver sustainable social care and health support to others with the tools provided by the county.

“If you have an idea for a group or have started one up and need some help, please reach out and the community catalyst will see what they can do to assist.”

Anita has also provided a small bursary to create leaflets and posters to put up around the town, making sure others know that Charlbury Men’s Group is there for them.

Members of Charlbury Men’s Group are among 160 people who have received 1,141 hours of support and activities through Community Micro Enterprises in their own communities, assisted by the community catalyst.

Anita said: “People in their own communities know what is wanted and needed and they are best placed to build these groups and services.

“The Community Micro Enterprise project uses a coaching and mentoring approach to help people meet the Doing It Right Standards.

“Drawing on people’s strengths, we cover all the important aspects of administration and processes while keeping values, focus and passion at the heart of the work. Working with Charlbury Men’s Group has been great. I have seen members develop their own systems, building on their existing knowledge and community connections.

“They have been very keen to be ‘doing it right’ and it has been a pleasure working with them to achieve this.”

Groups interested in receiving support can email a.wingad@communitycatalysts.co.uk.

Anyone interested in Charlbury Men’s Group can email mensgroupcmc@gmail.com to find out when the next meeting is happening.

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