If My Story Helps Just One Man, It’s Worth It

Domestic Abuse Survivor Launches Charity to Help Men Open Up

A Merseyside man who survived domestic abuse has launched a new charity to encourage men to speak openly about their mental health.

Chris Guy, 30, chairs The Mersey Mind Project, which began as a “football therapy” group for local dads and has since grown into a wider mental health initiative.

“It isn’t weak to speak up,” he said. “Men can find it hard to talk because of pride, but it’s so important to open up.”

The charity is now launching weekly peer-led drop-in sessions at The Sandbrook Centre in Moreton, offering a safe and non-judgemental space for men to connect and share experiences.

Since starting in July, its football sessions in Prenton have proved so popular that a second night was added. Mr Guy said football had been a “game-changer” in bringing men together across the community.

Regular attendee Ray Ferguson, 19, from Birkenhead, said the group had “changed my life”.“It takes all my stress away for an hour and a half,” he said. “There’s no judgement – just support.”

Alongside football, the Mersey Mind Project plans to run walk-and-talks, group hikes, and cycling sessions aimed at building a strong support network “where no man feels alone, and every voice matters.”