We’re proud to have supported Wellbeing With Emil CIC with a £2,000 grant to deliver Real Talk: A Community-based Men’s Wellbeing Programme.
Wellbeing With Emil is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company in South Birmingham. The initiative empowers men to improve their mental and physical wellbeing through group workshops, community pop-ups, one-to-one coaching and digital resources. Their approach is prevention-focused, trauma-informed and culturally responsive.
The Real Talk programme is a series of eight, free drop-in sessions, to give men a safe space to connect and learn practical methods for managing stress and everyday challenges.
The programme is designed for men who often face barriers to traditional support, due to their class, race, career or finances. Men are over-represented in suicide statistics and under-represented in therapy referrals, and the initiative was created because of high demand in the local community.
Each 90-minute session is based on a theme, such as nutrition, mindfulness or identity. They include refreshments and conversation, practical tools such as journalling or breathwork, and signposting local services.
The sessions will run on Saturday evenings throughout spring at Muath Trust in Sparkbrook, with participants joining from Sparkhill, Balsall Heath, Moseley, Kings Heath and Hall Green – where many GSA customers live. There will be up to 100 attendees across the eight sessions, with a ripple-effect of this support helping many more of their family, friends and colleagues.
Emil Taswar, Founder and Director of Wellbeing with Emil, said:
“The need for Real Talk comes directly from my lived experience in the neighbourhoods we serve. I repeatedly meet men who won’t go near clinical services but are more comfortable opening up in community venues, barbershops, gyms and faith groups. It became clear they wanted something that felt culturally familiar with, easy drop-in sessions, no pressure to speak up and no clinical jargon.
“With GSA’s funding, we can deliver Real Talk as a structured, place-based programme rather than a small volunteer-led pilot. This means more men can access safe spaces, learn practical tools and challenge stigma around mental health.”
The grant follows a successful application to our Community Impact Fund, an initiative designed to support GSA customers and improve their local communities. Grants of up to £2,000 per year are available to resident groups, community projects and local charities, with a focus on improving health and wellbeing, the environment, or life and employment skills.
The fund is made possible thanks to generous donations made by some of GSA’s suppliers, as part of their social value delivery commitments. One of these suppliers is Birmingham Drain Services Ltd and the Drain Group Ltd, who recently made a £1,000 donation to GSA.
Tony Buchanan, Operations Director at The Drain Group, commented:
“This is a fantastic project that we are proud to be supporting through our social value donation to GSA. Mental health is such an important investment and it’s great to see Emil connecting men in Birmingham with support in an accessible setting.”