By Helen Fay
A number of men from West Leeds (and beyond) have been benefiting from an initiative to support isolated men.
The Getaway Guys project comes under the umbrella of men’s mental health groups run by Creative Frame CIC.
Other groups run by Creative Frame include Man Made and Man About Town, the latter of which provides a weekly music group in Armley and a walking group.
Jonathan Parker, Creative Frame founder and director, said: “Getaway Guys supports men who meet weekly at social groups but have no activities. We arrange free or subsidised trips out, meals and events when funds allow.”
The most recent event took place on 2 July when a group of 14 men took the train to Hull for a day trip, courtesy of Northern Rail who provided free travel for the group.
Northern Rail funded the trip with a focus on male suicide prevention and to combat isolation.
Richard Isaac, regional community and sustainability manager for Northern Rail, told WLD: “At Northern we are proud to support partners in the regions who are working with men’s mental health groups to make a difference in our communities and prevent suicide.”
Jonathan Parker added “Northern recognise how important it is to talk about suicide in the context of the railway and support our male suicide prevention work.”
Apart from arranging trips out for its members, the group is very much focused on positive conversations that happen on the journey as much as the destination. Previous trips and activities have included a free barge trip at Mirfield, the Leeds Owl Trail and discounted ten pin bowling.
During the group’s trip to Hull, they visited Hull Minster, the Wilberforce House Museum and took a walk around the dock area.
The group had their own tour guide in the form of Stuart Hawkes, who runs a men’s group in Dewsbury called Men’s Talk.
Stuart, who hails from Hull, showed the group around local sites and places of interest. One grateful group member said: “Hull Minster was lovely, the stained glass windows and the knowledge of the volunteer was great.” Another group participant told WLD that it was “Good to meet new people and make new friends.”
Many of the group that travelled to Hull attend other Creative Frame/Man About Town groups and come from Bramley, Armley and Wortley. The Music group has just started meeting in Armley and the walking group takes in many walks around West Leeds as well as further afield.
The groups aim to support men by providing a safe and welcoming space in which to connect with others and promote wellbeing and self-esteem, and to help its’ members feel less isolated.
There are more Getaway Guys events planned during the rest of the year, see the Creative Frame website for further details here.
There is also lots more information about other projects on the website as well as a monthly newsletter to subscribe to.
For further information on the Man About Town Music Group and Walking Group, or if anyone would like to support the Getaway Guys with a donation, or if you are part of an organisation that can help the project with venues, travel and ideas, e-mail info@creativeframe.org.uk.
The Getaway Guys project is funded by Leeds Community Foundation’s Jimbo’s Fund.
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