Men Unite

Amen’s mental health support group based in North Staffordshire has received a major financial boost thanks to bereaved families from Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) has donated £10,000 to Men Unite –which provides arange of services encouraging men to talk abouttheir problems and overcome them –afterNewcastle Borough Council nominated it as its chosen beneficiary for funds raised from the ICCM’s metal recycling scheme.

The ICCM runs ascheme for its members, based on one initiated by the Dutch Cremation Federation, where metals remaining following cremation are recycled with the express consent of the families involved. It’s operatedonanoncommercial, open accounting basis, with all surplus monies shared among selected charities.

Men Unite, setupinApril 2019 by electrician Craig Spillane from Talke Pits, started off as a private Facebook group for asmall number of close friends as asafe forum to discuss personal issues but it expandedrapidly and now has 14,000 members, from 80 countries, who have access to support 24 hours aday, seven days aweekfrom trained volunteers.

The community interest company, which is becoming acharity,has since launched adaily hub at Hanley Town FC –where men have access to professional counselling services –aSunday league football team as well as awell-being league in partnership with Stoke City FC and Staffordshire FA, afood bank and amental health workshop programme.

The £10,000 donation is set to be used to fund future counselling services, including specific sessions focusing on bereavement, and enhance the new Daniel Platt memorial lounge at the dropin hub. The lounge is aplace where visitors can sit and reflect and is named in honour of aMen Unite member who sadly took his own life.

Craig, aged 42, said: “I didn’tknowthatmetals could be recycledinthisway; it’s an amazing thing. “We’re asmall charitable organisation so any donations we receive make ahuge difference and go straight into helping people. We’re just so grateful. “Men Unite encourages men to speak out about their problems instead of bottling it up and eventually taking their own life. Male suicide is the biggest killer of men underthe ageof45; one person loses their life in this way every two hours. They’re frightening statistics. “I’ve experienced troubles –and I’ve got a broad spectrum of friends from different walks of life who have as well for various reasons –sothat understanding underpins everything we do. “This fantastic donation will help us to continue providing immediate counselling sessions for those who are struggling. This extremely quick service is very important as it can mean the difference betweenlife and death.We’re so honoured to be nominated for the donation. I’m really proud that we are able to make suchadifference to so many people’s lives.”

The ICCM donated £10,000 to the Dove Service, alocal grief support charity, in January.

Councillor Trevor Johnson, cabinet member for environment and recycling, is the portfolio holder for bereavement services. He said: “We’re very pleased that the ICCM has accepted our second nomination and donated another £10,000 to such agreat local cause. This is only possible because of the selfless actions of bereaved familieswho have decided to allow metals remaining following cremation to be recycled in this way. “Men Unite are doing excellent work in the local area to address male mental health, something which has been affected by the pandemic, so this money will have amassive impact. Ihope this provides residents whohave lost aloved one with some level of comfort.”

Reusing metal, which would otherwise never break down, is also environmentally friendly as it preserves non-renewable resources.

The ICCM, founded in 1913,providespolicy and best practice guidance to burial and cremation authorities in the UK as well as representing them at Government level.

For more information about Men Unite, visit www.menunite.org.