Men’s Matters were awarded £2,000 towards their project ‘New Horizons’.
Men’s Matters is a social wellbeing group dedicated to enhancing the lives of older men by promoting well-being, resilience, and social inclusion. They are part of the NHS Social Prescription initiative and welcome older men referred with early-stage dementia, depression and anxiety.
The group hosts weekly meetings on Monday afternoons in Windsor and Wednesday afternoons in Maidenhead, providing a safe and supportive environment where men can comfortably open up and connect with one another. These weekly meetings, help strengthen community ties by hosting talks from local group speakers.
Additionally, Men’s Matters organises excursions to local attractions, offering opportunities for members to build and reinforce social connections.
The New Horizons project aimed to strengthen weekly social meetings in Windsor and Maidenhead, and develop the group’s relationship with the community through participation and stands at local events, along with expanding their Community Outreach efforts. The project also planned to organise one joint excursion for Windsor and Maidenhead members as well as two local excursions for each group. They also hoped to build on their Intergenerational Dialogue Activities.
Weekly attendance saw a significant increase, with many new members joining in both areas. Men’s Matters hosted multiple stands at community events, and organised the first-ever Health & Wellbeing Fayre for older men in the borough, at Maidenhead Library. The fayre featured over 20 exhibitors offering a wide range of health and wellbeing support, along with a tai chi demonstration, prize draws, and refreshments, attracting over 130 attendees. A growing sense of camaraderie has developed among the group members, who clearly value the regular meeting slot in their week. Over time, they have become comfortable in the environment Men’s Matters provide and have formed lasting friendships.
A listening exercise organised by No5 with marginalised young people revealed that they do not benefit from, trust, or feel safe with most statutory services. They expressed a need for a holistic approach to service access, design and delivery, driven by collaboration between young people and professionals under one roof: The Reading Young People’s Hub.
The project involved young people collaborating with a specialist youth work consultant during sessions to co-design specific youth services, as well as their specialist Hub designer to ensure the building met high standards of accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability. It was designed to help young people feel seen, heard, and understood, emphasising that their contributions are valuable and significant. For many young people who feel ‘unheard,’ this would be a profound and meaningful experience that boosts their confidence, well-being, and ambition.
One Men’s Matters beneficiary, R (aged 80), was recently diagnosed with early-stage dementia. He attends Dementia UK meetings in addition to Men’s Matters meetings weekly. He is determined to keep active and enjoys the community of the Men’s Matters group. He says he feels it is beneficial to him to keep his mind occupied by conversing with other men of a similar age, and finds the general knowledge quiz a challenge that stimulates memory and thought. He is a widower who lives alone so he values the company of others and feels he is part of something with Men’s Matters.
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