Organisers of Wolverhampton men's walking group drop in for a coffee and cake at No. 10
Organisers of a West Midland men's walking group were invited for cake and coffee with the Prime Minister to explain how their project helped member with their mental health.
Stephen Ruddick and Alex Long of Men Walking and Talking Wednesfield attended the Samaritans' annual 'Brew Monday' event in Downing Street at the invitation of Wolverhampton MP Sureena Brackenridge.
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Samaritans, which answers a call for help every 10 seconds, has been holding the event since 2017, as part of a campaign against the myth of so-called Blue Monday, created by the public relations industry based on the day when people are supposedly most affected by gloomy weather, post Christmas debt and broken new-year resolutions.
The charity says this trivialises mental health and discourages people from seeking help when they need it.
Mr Ruddick said: "This was a fantastic chance for myself and Alex to explain how important Men Walking and Talking is to so many communities withing the UK, especially here in Wednesfield.
"Groups like this offer a safe space for men to meet like-minded people to talk and listen.”
Mr Long added: "We got to have a one-to-one chat with the Prime Minister, explaining the work that we do, and why we do it. "We want to grow the group, and we asked him to understand the importance of groups like ours, and to ask him to use his power to help break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health.”
Mrs Brackenridge, MP for Wolverhampton North East, said she immediately thought of the pair when she was given the chance to invite people to the event.
"Men Walking and Talking Wednesfield is a vital pillar of the community, and I want to thank all of the lads for their commitment to the group," she said.
"Men’s mental health needs to be an absolute priority of the government, and it is essential that stigmas are broken and it is given the attention it deserves as a public health emergency."
Mrs Brackenridge added that the event followed the Government’s 2025 announcement of a men’s health strategy for England, which documented plans to improve the health and wellbeing of all men and boys in England over the next decade.
