Celebrating Kenny-Joe Witney’s Highly Commended Award

‘For Men To Talk’ is delighted to share some very exciting news. Our wonderful facilitator, Kenny-Joe Witney, has been awarded a Highly Commended Award in the Volunteer Award category at the 2025 BBC Three Counties Make a Difference Awards.

This special recognition is given to people who make a real difference in their communities by giving their time and energy to help others. The awards ceremony took place at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable on 18 September 2025. Judges carefully selected the finalists and winners after hearing many inspiring stories.

Kenny-Joe’s Journey

Kenny-Joe has faced his own battles with mental health over the years. He has also been diagnosed with Autism, which brings its own challenges. Despite this, he has used his experiences to help others and give back to the community.

For the last 18 months, he has been running the ‘For Men To Talk about Autism’ virtual meetings twice every month. These meetings are a safe space for autistic men, men with autistic family members, or men awaiting an autism diagnosis.

In addition to this, Kenny-Joe also leads the ‘For Men To Talk – Hitchin’ walking group meetings, held twice a month. These walks allow men to connect with each other in a relaxed and supportive way.

What is ‘For Men To Talk’?

‘For Men To Talk’ is a men’s peer support group. It gives men a chance to speak openly about anxiety, depression, grief, and other challenges. The group is about creating a safe space where men can share and listen without judgement.

Meetings are run in different ways to suit everyone’s needs. These include physical meet-ups, virtual sessions, fishing trips, and walking groups. Funding helps support the physical and walking meetings, giving men more chances to connect in person.

Words from Kenny-Joe

When asked about his award, Kenny-Joe said:

“Although I never walked away with a win, it felt a huge honour to be shortlisted and recognised for my true passion, supporting the local community in their mental health needs.”

Praise from BBC Three Counties

Tara Dolby, from BBC Three Counties Radio, also shared kind words about Kenny-Joe’s achievement:

“Ok, so Kenny didn’t pick up the winner’s trophy but he’d already been through a huge judging round to get to the final stage. He went home with a Highly Commended award which I reckon, in anyone’s book, is pretty bloomin’ impressive. Eight awards, 32 shortlisted finalists and they’ve ALL got wonderful stories.”

You can listen to Kenny-Joe’s story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0ltp22x  

A Message from ‘For Men To Talk’

Luke Newman, the founder of ‘For Men To Talk’, said:

“We are so proud of Kenny-Joe. His strength, honesty, and kindness have helped so many men in our community. This recognition shows just how much of an impact he has made.”

Final Thoughts

While Kenny-Joe may not have taken home the winner’s trophy, being Highly Commended is an incredible achievement. His work shows the power of giving time, sharing experiences, and supporting one another.

At ‘For Men To Talk’, we couldn’t be prouder to have Kenny-Joe as part of our team.