Br8ke The Silence: Mental health well-being support for residents of Newham

Project has been completed - December 2024

Br8ke The Silence Project Summary

1. Project Activities:

• Men's Circles: Safe spaces were created for young men aged 16-20 through Men's Circles in multiple venues: St. Anthony's Forest Gate, Emmanuel Church for over 18s, and Forest Gate Library for younger individuals.
• Venue Partnerships: Collaborated with St. Anthony's Forest Gate, Safe Bonds School, and Forest Gate School to provide accessible locations for the circles.
• Promotional Activities: Awareness-raising efforts such as flyers, school assemblies, and faith organisations were used to encourage participation.
• Volunteer Recruitment: Secured five volunteers, including school staff and teachers, to promote the program and support participants.
• Workshops and Webinars: Completed webinars on storytelling and vulnerability for men and two workshops on mental health and leadership for young people.

2. Local Priorities Addressed:

• The project addresses community well-being and safety by providing safe spaces for men to discuss mental health, contributing to the reduction of loneliness, and promoting open dialogue.
• The circles also enhance community safety, as untreated mental health issues can lead to negative outcomes like self-harm or violence. Early intervention through these discussions helps prevent such risks.
• The project also works with local mental health services and substance abuse services to offer further support, thus promoting a safer community environment.

3. Project Beneficiaries:

• Total participants: 50 men
• Volunteers: 6
• Demographics:
• Gender: 80% male, 10% female, 10% prefer not to say
• Age groups: 30% under 19, 20% in their 20s, 10% in their 30s, 10% in their 40s, 20% in their 50s, 5% in their 60s, and 5% prefer not to say
• Ethnicity: 40% Black (20% African, 20% Caribbean), 20% Asian, 10% mixed ethnic, and 10% White

4. Main Outcomes:

• Mental Health Support Network: Established sustainable men's circles that offer peer support and promote mental well-being.
• Increased Awareness: Raised awareness of mental health and available support services among young men.
• Reduced Stigma: Provided a platform to reduce stigma around mental health discussions.
• Sustainability: Demonstrated potential for the men’s circles to continue beyond the initial project by securing volunteers.

5. Community Impact:

• Improved Social Cohesion: Created stronger connections within the community by fostering relationships through the men’s circles.
• Empowerment of Young Men: Equipped young men with knowledge and resources to make positive life choices.
• Strengthened School-Community Collaboration: Enhanced ties between schools and the wider community.

6. Challenges and Solutions:

• Turnout and Consistency: Low attendance was addressed by using personalized, 1-on-1 outreach, increasing engagement.
• School Participation: Logistical and safeguarding challenges were addressed by building lead time into the planning stages.

7. Unmet Objectives:

• Volunteer Training: The project could not fully train leaders to continue running circles independently.
• Sustainability via Subs: A plan for participants to pay small subs was not fully realized, but the group is likely to continue at St. Anthony’s and Emmanuel Church with venue support.

8. Highlights of People Powered Places Programme:

• Two circles are strong enough to continue with existing volunteers.
• Additional workshops were held to influence how other community groups approach men's mental health.

9. Recommendations for Future Circles:

• Use participation metrics and surveys to track engagement, attendance, and outcomes.
• Implement interviews and other qualitative methods to gather deeper insights into participants' experiences.