Select Page

Re-introducing the ‘For Men To Talk’ founder and director Luke Newman

Awards, General News, Kenya, The Mental Health Moles

Me

My name is Luke Newman and I am the founder of ‘For Men To Talk’.

I am a husband and father from Potton in Bedfordshire, I have lived in the surrounding towns all my life. I started the group to allow men to talk about their anxiety, depression and grief.

I have suffered for a number of years with grief and anxiety since losing my mother and sister both to cancer. Already been through counselling and therapy, I recognised that there wasn’t any groups for men just simply to talk.

After setting up a Facebook page on Christmas Eve in 2019, the first ‘For Men To Talk’ group meeting was held at ‘Jones’ Café’ in Biggleswade on Wednesday 13 February 2020, where nineteen attended, talking about anything from football, television, movies, to feelings.

I have struggled. But I feel very fortunate that I have always been able to open up and talk to someone. I know that some men struggle with that.

The groups are very informal and although there are no experts on hand, information for professional support for those men who recognise that they may need further help are available. It’s just a simple open-door policy to any man who feels like that they need to talk about how they are feeling.

The Mental Health Moles

In April 2021, I wrote and designed a book called ‘The Mental Health Moles’.

The book sees the moles have 52 discussions, filled with advice about mental health topics, such as anxiety, depression, grief, social media, stress, sleep and many more. They are accompanied with brightly coloured and boldly drawn illustrations. See https://www.formentotalk.co.uk/mhmoles/ for further information.

Humanitarian trips to Kenya

Since 2014, with African Adventures and Derby County Community Trust I attended humanitarian trips to one of the poorest suburbs of Nakuru in Kenya. 

In 2023 I will be return for the EIGHTH time to continue my work and help build and renovate classrooms in schools, as well as teaching and playing with the Kenyan children. 

I will be accompanied by over 70 volunteers from Derby County Community Trust, including my father Steve, brother Paul and nephews Max & Fynn. See https://www.formentotalk.co.uk/fmttken/ for further information and blogs from my trips.

Qualifications

I have now undertaken the following qualifications and workshops:

  • TQUK Level 1 Award in Mental Health Awareness
  • Mind (BLMK) – Mental Health Awareness
  • Mind (BLMK) – Suicide Awareness & Supporting Crisis
  • Mind (BLMK) – Safeguarding in Adults
  • First Aider

Awards

I have been awarded the following:

  • A BBC ‘Make A Difference’ award given to an individual who makes a real difference to the community.
  • Awarded ‘Role Model of the Year’ and ‘Winner of Winners’ at the ‘Luton & Bedfordshire Community Award’.

Follow Me

You can now follow me on Facebook via on https://www.facebook.com/LukeNewmanMH