The West Leeds Men’s Network has come to an end in its current form as it joins the new community wellbeing service, Being You Leeds. Barca-Leeds are proud to be a part of this new partnership service providing groups, activities, and training and awareness sessions across Leeds.
The West Leeds Men’s Network aims to combat isolation amongst men in the Armley and Bramley area's of Leeds with a specific focus on mental health and suicide prevention work. At Barca-Leeds, our support in this area has been long-standing as our first Men’s Group started in 2014, as part of an insights project into men’s health in our local communities.
“For me it has really supported my general wellbeing. I've been coming since November 2021. [The group] helped me realise the importance of coming out and socialising on my days off and looking after myself. It's very convenient for me to get to and I've made friends, it's a nice, normal and relaxing environment when life is busy.”
- West Leeds Men’s Network Group Member
From local walking sessions to social meetups and trips, the Network has co-created a variety of activities with its members over the years. One such activity is a Music Group that formed in October 2022. The Group meets weekly at Broadlea Community Centre in Bramley, and recently achieved their goal of writing and recording original songs by publishing not one but three songs in June 2023. Listen to their music for free on their Bandcamp page.
On 12 June 2023, the Music Group performed live at a Men's Health Week event at Broadlea Community Centre. The event was part of the Northern Man Festival, a celebration on Men and Men's Health in Leeds that saw 11 free and fun events taking place across the week.
Members of the West Leeds Men’s Network Music Group produced a video to share what being a part of the band means to them:
The Being You Leeds partnership is made up of: Touchstone, Barca-Leeds, Hamara, Health for All, Holbeck Together, LS14 Trust, Women’s Health Matters, Community Links and Humans Being.
To find out more about our men's health and wellbeing work, please contact Jonathan Parker on Jonathan.Parker@barca-leeds.org
