Talk team helping steer men in right direction
Global fashion brand adds
AMENTAL health peer support group has been launched with the aim of getting men talking.
Directions For Men, which runs peer support groups across the country, has launched its latest group at the Star Tree Studio Gig House, Hare Hill Park, Littleborough.
Running every Wednesday from 7pm the group aims to help men talk about how they’re feeling and help to reduce suicide, which is the biggest killer of men under 40.
Founder of Directions For Men, Chris Judge, set up the first group in his hometown Warrington two years ago, and there are now 18 groups, including several in Manchester, to help men connect and talk.
He said: “Anyone can
Directions For Men founded by Chris Judge (inset), which also run walking football sessions, has launched a mental health peer support group in Littleborough. turn up, we’re not therapists, we’re not psychologists, we don’t treat people.
“We’re a group of fellas that have been there ourselves and can understand how hard it can be when you’re struggling and we encourage anyone to come and talk.
“We can always guarantee two things, a warm welcome and a brew and that’s what fellas get.
“When you give men the opportunity to talk, and that you’re not going to judge them you get men coming in and talking and sharing.
“You visibly see the physical change in them when they unburden with what they’ve been going through.”
Having previously worked in drug and alcohol services in the criminal justice system Chris said he had experience of men’s mental health issues.
But he said the catalyst for starting Directions For Men was when his cousin John Paul took his own life in January 2019.
He said: “The guilt that I felt that I wasn’t there when he needed me, I was really ashamed of myself.
“I suppose I wanted to do something positive from the negative feelings so I set up Directions For Men and it’s grown from there.
“The vast majority of people I saw in work were men and almost all had a mental illness or underlying issue.
“They couldn’t solve problems effectively without drink, drugs or fighting and that always stayed with me and is something I always cared about.”
Chris said he also suffered from anxiety so severe that he was offered the choice of medication, which he said didn’t work for him, or counselling where there was a yearlong waiting list.
“If there was a third option my GP gave me where they said while you’re waiting for counselling, go and talk to these people and see if they can help I would have done that,” he said.
“I could have spoken to other men who suffered with anxiety and it might have helped me to get over it a bit quicker.”
Wesley Claridge, who is running the sessions in Littleborough, said: “We just want men to turn up.
“I’ve been through my own mental health struggles and only recently realised what was happening. I’ve gone through therapies and I’m on the more positive side now.
“I want to help guys out to not go through what I went through and be more open and understand themselves better.”
He added that it was important to make people feel comfortable before they open up about their mental health.
“What we found is that you don’t need to get people to talk about their problems straight away, you need to talk like you would your mate in the pub,” said Wesley.
“You just talk about what your interests are and you find some common ground to start with and once they know you’re a safe person to talk to they’ll end up opening up.
“If you’re honest and open with them then they feel safer talking to you.”
To find out more information about Directions For Men visit: directionsformen.org.uk/
ROCHDALE Riverside is set to welcome a new fashion brand to its retail and leisure development.
Global fashion brand New Look has signed a lease to occupy Unit 17, between H&M and River Island, at the retail development in the centre of Rochdale.
It means Rochdale Riverside is now 92 per cent let.
Work has already started to fit out the unit in preparation for the pre-christmas opening.
Popular restaurant chain Nandos is also expected to be open in time for Christmas after joining the likes of Crust Pizza, Loaded Burgers and Heavenly Desserts who have already taken space at the £80m development.
Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and communications at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Rochdale Riverside opened in April 2020 and New Look is the fifth new tenant to sign a lease since the pandemic started.
“That’s nothing short of remarkable in the current climate and highlights the feel-good factor that there is in the town.
Cllr Blundell added that visitor numbers were increasing week by week at Rochdale Riverside.
He said: “New Look left Rochdale in 2020 with the closure of the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre so I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring them back into Rochdale to complement the other major fashion brands we have here like H&M, Next, River Island and Marks & Spencer.
“The presence of Reel Cinema and Puttstars means there really is something for everyone and the latest footfall figures for Rochdale Riverside are really encouraging, with visitor numbers increasing week by week.”
Delivered in a joint venture between Genr8
and Kajima in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Riverside is a 200,000 sq ft retail and leisure development in the heart of Rochdale town centre which also includes a 520-space multi-storey car park. Enabling works are already underway for Rochdale Riverside phase two, known as Upperbanks, which will comprise 242 apartments and a 146-bed Hampton by Hilton hotel.
Rochdale Riverside forms part of a wider £400m transformation of Rochdale town centre, being delivered by Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough Council.
Meanwhile, another big-brand name is joining the line-up at Rochdale Riverside - and it’s coming before Christmas.
American donut and coffee chain, Dunkin Donuts, will be opening in the unit later this year.
The global chain will be occupying a unit of just over 1,000 square feet. The news comes just after the reveal that New Look will also be opening on the site in the near future.
Dunkin is one of the largest coffee and donut chains in the world, with 12,900 locations in 42 countries, going strong since its launch in the USA in 1950. The Dunkin Donuts reveal was announced last Friday by Rochdale Council.