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Bolton Manbassadors is an award-winning men's mental health project delivered by Be One Homes:
It’s okay to find things difficult, and you don’t have to go through it on your own. If you’re struggling, our Bolton Manbassadors project is here to listen and help you find the support that feels right for you.
Following in the footsteps of the Orion Partnership’s ‘Manbassadors’ project in Leeds, Bolton Manbassadors are looking to take a different approach in engaging men.
We want normalise conversations around mental health, remove the stigma, and support men to get the support they need. The aims of the project are to:
- Raise awareness locally of the mental health issues facing men.
- Grow a network of local organisations across Bolton acting as men’s health advocates – Manbassadors – who look out for and speak with their customers.
- Help men engage with other services that can support their mental health.
- Develop a network of men's social and community activities across Bolton, creating safe spaces for men to be able to talk about mental wellbeing.
Wondering what Bolton Manbassadors is all about?
We hope these short videos do a good job of capturing what Bolton Manbassadors is all about – and how the project has benefitted so many individuals already.
There are many ways you can get support from or be involved in the Manbassadors project. Just scroll down to learn more.
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Why's the Manbassadors project needed?
The Manbassadors project was launched in 2021 to help raise awareness of men’s wellbeing and tackle high rates of male suicide.
Did you know that:
- One in six adults (over 16) are experiencing common mental health problems at any one time?
- In the UK, men are only around half as likely as women to access psychological therapies, and it’s also believed they are less likely to speak to family or friends about mental health issues?
- Every week, 125 people in the UK take their own lives?
- Three in four people who commit suicide are male?
- Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK?
Many of us will know of someone close to us who has suffered with their mental health. It might be your dad, your son, your brother, your uncle, your cousin, your friend, your teammate at work, or yourself.
Men traditionally don’t speak out and ask for help when they need it. We want you to know it’s okay not to be okay, you are not alone and support is out there for you. When things get tough, we look out for each other.
What's a Manbassador?
A Manbassador is a men’s health advocate.
- They look out for their customers, engage in conversations, and tell them about further support options where appropriate.
The aim of the Manbassadors project is to tackle high rates of male suicide and mental health issues. Our Manbassadors are reaching out to men with a simple intervention of an informal, bite-sized support delivered on a local level.
Whether you’re a nursery or a pub, a café or a barber, a gym, or a local takeaway — you can play your part by becoming a Manbassador**.
We also have sports clubs — including football, cricket, boxing, and wrestling — as well as community groups and charitable organisations signed up as Manbassadors.
If you’re a people-facing business, group, or organisation, you can become a Manbassador and look out for your customers/members, let them know they’re not alone, raise awareness of men’s mental health issues, and signpost them to further support where appropriate.
Manbassadors are the heartbeat of our men's mental health project.
- We're looking to recruit new businesses, groups, clubs, and organisations to help us connect with men who may need support.
**If you’re interested in becoming a Manbassador, you can tap on the relevant link below to learn more about what it means to become a Manbassador in your area and how to get started.
Manbassadors projects are currently delivered in Bolton (Be One Homes), Wigan (Wigan Council), Salford (Salix Homes), and Stockport (Stockport Homes).
Where's my nearest Manbassador in Bolton?
Our interactive map shows which businesses have signed up as Manbassadors in Bolton.
- You can find your nearest Manbassadors using the map below. Just tap on a star to view details about each one.
We’ll keep this up to date as more organisations sign up to become Manbassadors.
What if I don't live in Bolton?
Meet the Bolton Manbassadors team:
Paula Rowson
Community Engagement Manager
Paula leads and oversees the entire project.
Rowan Ardill
Community Development Officer
Heads up the Greater Manchester Manbassadors programme.
Daniel Livesey
Bolton Manbassadors Project Officer
Provides one‑to‑one support for men in our community.
Tara Branagan
Bolton Manbassadors Project Officer
Connects with and signs up our amazing Manbassadors.
Mark White
Bolton Manbassadors Peer Navigator
Works closely with Jonathan to engage with men across Bolton, offering support where it’s needed most.
Jonathan Long
Bolton Manbassadors Peer Navigator
Works closely with Mark to engage with men across Bolton, offering support where it’s needed most.
Find out about upcoming Manbassadors events and activities, support services, ways to be involved, and more:
Our embedded Padlet brings together the latest news and events, support services, opportunities to support the project, and more. If you can’t see the Padlet below or would like to view it in full screen, you can tap here to open the Bolton Manbassadors Padlet in a new tab.
You can also stay up to date on social media.
Interested in becoming a Manbassador (as an organisation) or supporting the project as an individual?
There are a few ways you can support the project as an organisation or an individual.
How can my organisation become a Bolton Manbassador?
Manbassadors are the heartbeat to our men's mental health project.
- We're looking to recruit new businesses, groups, clubs, and organisations to help us connect with men who may need support. There are three 'Tiers' of Manbassador support in Bolton.
Want to become a Bolton Manbassador? Send us an email using: boltonmanbassadors@beonehomes.com.
Tier One Bolton Manbassadors - what we ask:
- Be an ambassador for men's mental health.
- Look out for your male customers.
- Have a chat and hand out our leaflet.
- Display our leaflets, posters, and other promotional materials.
- If you can: connect with other local SME businesses. This is an opportunity to build an SME business Manbassador network to connect with like-minded businesses and share ideas.
What we offer to you:
- A listing on our Manbassadors webpage.
- A welcome pack.
- Promotional materials.
- Access to free non-accredited training.
Tier Two Bolton Manbassadors - what we ask (in addition to Tier One):
- Provide deals or discounts for the men who access our support.
- Donate goods or 'in kind' services to our groups.
What we offer to you (in addition to Tier One):
- Regular social media promotion.
- Access to free accredited training.
Tier Three Bolton Manbassadors - what we ask (in addition to Tiers One and Two):
- Sponsor or deliver a community activity (*100% of funds raised through sponsorship or fundraising will go directly to our community offer and raising awareness around men's mental health.)
- Fundraise or donate.
- Provide work placements, volunteering, or job opportunities for men who access our support.
What we offer to you (in addition to Tiers One and Two):
- Free merchandise.
- Prime promotion on our webpage and our annual report.
- Free awareness session for your staff.
How can my organisation sponsor the Bolton Manbassadors project?
Businesses: why not become a sponsor of Bolton Manbassadors?
We’re looking for sponsors to help fund the growth of the Manbassadors project. Are you:
- A business looking to add social value to your organisation?
- Looking for a local project that is making a difference across Bolton?
- Passionate about suicide prevention and promoting positive mental wellbeing amongst men?
We’d love to hear from you. Just send us an email using: boltonmanbassadors@beonehomes.com.
How can I support Bolton Manbassadors as an individual?
You can volunteer to support the Manbassadors project as an individual.
For more information on volunteering to support the project as an individual, please send us an email using: boltonmanbassadors@beonehomes.com.
More support is available:
If you aren’t a male aged over 18, or if you aren’t living in one of the areas covered by the Manbassadors project, please remember that help is still available – whatever you’re going through:
- If you need urgent help for your mental health, please tap here to visit the NHS website for details on mental health support services.
- For general non-emergency health advice, you can tap here to visit NHS 111 online, or you can call 111.
- You can tap here to visit the CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) website. CALM offer a helpline, webchat, and online guidance for a range of issues.
- You can tap here to visit the Shout website. Shout offer a free, confidential, and 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who may be struggling with their mental health.
- You can also tap here to find your nearest UCAN centre, where our friendly staff provide help with a little bit of everything — including health and wellbeing.
- If you need non-emergency access to the Police, call 101.
