The Mersey Mind Project has published its 2025–26 Impact Report detailing a year of growth in community-based support for men across the Wirral. The charity says it helped more than 150 men over the year, delivering a broad range of peer-led activities that combine exercise with conversation and practical support.
Expansion driven by targeted funding and rising demand
The charity reports it delivered in excess of 117 sessions across month-long programmes during the year, expanding capacity with the aid of five major funding grants. Programmes include Football Therapy, Bootcamp Therapy, Cycling Therapy and The Listening Space, which aim to reduce isolation and encourage help-seeking through shared activity.
The report underlines increased demand for peer support and says the charity has been invited to represent its model at high-profile events, including the Mental Health World Cup at Goodison Park and fixtures at Marine FC.
Participant outcomes and local implications
According to the charity's census, every respondent reported an improvement in their mental health after taking part in activities. Before joining, more than 93% of participants rated their mental health between one and three out of five; afterwards, all respondents rated their mental health at four or five. Those figures point to significant short-term improvements in self-reported wellbeing among attendees.
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Men supported in year | 150+ |
| Sessions delivered (month-long programmes) | 117+ |
| Major funding grants | 5 |
| Pre-programme low wellbeing (1–3/5) | 93%+ |
| Post-programme higher wellbeing (4–5/5) | 100% (respondents) |
While the report celebrates these outcomes, it also sets out the wider context for men’s mental health locally: loneliness, financial pressures and bereavement are cited as common drivers of distress, and stigma remains a barrier to seeking help.
What participants and leaders say
The charity emphasises that its approach is as much about creating spaces for conversation as it is about statistics. In the report, chairman Chris Guy said:
“While the numbers demonstrate our growth, our true impact is measured in conversations started, confidence rebuilt and lives changed. Every session delivered represents another opportunity for someone to realise they aren’t alone.”
Mersey Mind Project highlights Football Therapy as particularly effective at prompting conversations and building friendships — an approach that mirrors national findings on the value of activity-based peer support for men.
Implications for local services and next steps
The report will be of interest to Wirral councillors, NHS commissioners and other local providers assessing community-based support as part of mental health strategies. The charity’s success in attracting grants and delivering measurable improvements strengthens the case for sustained commissioning or partnership funding to embed these services long term.
- Peer-led, activity-based programmes can reduce social isolation and encourage help-seeking.
- Clear self-reported improvements among participants support further integration with local health pathways.
- Sustained funding will be needed to meet rising demand and scale services across Wirral.
The Mersey Mind Project says it will continue delivering its existing programmes and aims to reach more men across the Wirral, working to break down stigma and make support available when people need it most.
