Community Group Supports Men's Mental Health Through Sports
A men's mental health group offering sports activities such as yoga, football, and darts has become an informal referral option for the NHS.
Moreton Men Sports Group, located in Bury St Edmund's, Suffolk, was established in 2024 initially as a six-a-side football team with 15 members. Since then, it has expanded to include over 200 participants.
The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) stated that it informally refers men to this group. The members range in age from 17 to 52 and typically do not require clinical intervention but would benefit from community-based support.
Founder Aims to Address Loneliness and NHS Demand
Adam Townsend, 39, from Suffolk, founded the group to address his own feelings of loneliness and believes the initiative can help reduce pressure on NHS services.
"Through my own mental health journey, I went to the doctors and noticed that there was a gap for support groups for men in the area, particularly men my age.
"I wanted to tackle loneliness, and we feel like this group can do that. It embraces all people in the community. Whether you are new to the area [or] to the country, don't have many friends or have loads of friends."
The group encourages men to engage in conversation and open up through its sports and activities.
"There is a taboo about men talking. I struggled to talk to other men. This has transformed it for me, and for our members.
"When men are together, there is something magical about it.
"We are big idiots really, but there isn't enough opportunity for us to be around each other and show that in a safe space where we can really let our hair down,"
he added.
Group Growth and Activity Expansion
The group now includes two darts teams and multiple football squads, including an 11-a-side Sunday league team.
Townsend mentioned plans to introduce a running club and netball club. To broaden accessibility across age groups, yoga sessions have recently been added.
Members Share Their Experiences
Will Tovey, 28, from Suffolk, joined the group to connect with peers and improve his mental health.
"The yoga takes your mind off everything, because you are so focused on the stretches. You can relax,"
"I moved here five years ago, so it has been really helpful to meet other young men my age. It's so good for mental health. We do go to the pub after and just chat, which is important,"
he said.
Jack Plumb, 38, also from Suffolk, shared how the group and yoga sessions have helped him combat loneliness.
"It really does make me feel better every week,"
"You lose friends as you get older, and it becomes harder to meet people.
"The group is an easy way to do that and it's so important for men to talk,"
he added.
Lewis Shepherd, 26, captain of the Sunday football team, has a speech impediment and was recommended the group by a friend. He said it has boosted his confidence.
"The mental health side of things is why I joined,"
"I was going through a tough time. We have a good group of people that pick you up when you are down.
"I find it difficult to fit into new groups, interact with new people. I get a little bit shy as you can imagine. But we look beyond that, and what you may have come through in your life,"
he added.
Alex, 17, the group's youngest member, has Townes-Brocks syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that caused severe hearing loss at birth. He is the star striker for the six-a-side team and expressed feeling welcomed by the group.
"I love it,"
"it's been really enjoyable, and the lads have been supportive. It's fun first, and everyone is so friendly. We really feel like a family."
His father, Damian, commented on the positive impact the group has had on Alex's social skills and confidence.
"His deafness makes it harder for him to communicate and socialise, but Moreton Men has been an excellent way for him to make new friends and enjoy his favourite sports - footy and darts.
"Everyone in the group has made him feel welcome and helped him to improve his confidence and feel part of a team, so it's been great to see him develop his social skills,"
he added.
Integration with NHS Services
Townsend emphasized the group's intention to become more integrated within the healthcare system to alleviate some of the NHS's workload.
"We are trying to enforce ourself into the system, because we really feel like we can take some of the strain away."
Cath Byford, NSFT's chief patient experience officer and deputy chief executive, explained the trust's approach to community referrals.
"Where a person does not require clinical intervention but would benefit from support within their community, NSFT will make an informal referral to the Moreton Men Sports Group.
"These community‑based connections are a vital part of delivering safer, kinder and better care, helping individuals feel supported closer to home while strengthening the overall network of mental health and wellbeing services."
The group’s introduction of yoga was designed as an accessible way for men to relax, decompress, and reflect.
