SOCIAL
Kevin Bell, Partner
Ed Duffield, Managing Associate
SOCIAL
Kevin Bell, Partner
Ed Duffield, Managing Associate
Talk Club
Earlier this year we launched a new pilot programme in Leeds with a charity, Talk Club. Talk Club work with organisations to set up ‘talk and listen’ peer to peer groups so that men can talk about how they’re feeling. Their unique approach is that rather than being asked "How are you doing?" (and providing the bog-standard response of "Fine", like we all do) you are asked, "How are you out of 10?" at the beginning and end of every meeting to facilitate discussion within the group.
These groups aren’t just for people who aren’t feeling well. If you want to get fit, you go to the gym, but you don’t stop going once you are fit, you continue to go to maintain your fitness. Mental health is no different.
The groups we’ve run so far have been well attended and the feedback we’ve received has been very positive with all finding it beneficial. For example in Leeds, where we started the programme, over the course of three groups the average score has increased by 0.5. For a one-hour chat, this is a good illustration that talking through issues, challenges and ideas of how to improve health and wellbeing really does work.
In Newcastle, the second office to roll out the project, initial feedback has included the terms “inspiring” and “reassuring” as participants felt comfortable opening up and sharing how they were feeling.
Ultimately, we both could not recommend Talk Club more, and are looking forward to continuing to run these sessions.
Looking ahead, we’re hoping to roll out these groups to other offices too, and to train ‘captains’ across the business who can lead their own Talk Clubs for our people.
