Issue details

Mandem Meetup is a grassroots charity promoting, correcting and improving the conversation around men’s mental health and wellbeing. It provides an open, inclusive community for all those who identify as a man, integrating a range of social, holistic and more ‘traditional’ forms of clinical support, ranging from psycho-social interventions and recreational activities to practical advice and guidance, as well as talking therapy and more. To date, 1700+ men have received interventions from Mandem Meetup.

Mandem Meetup are part of the umbrella network of organisations within the Greater Manchester Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) and Trauma Responsive programme, which the VRU has co-funded extensively since both its- and the TR programme’s- inception in 2019. Within the GMCA, the GM Reform Board & VRU work with the GM NHS Integrated Care Board to promote a shared understanding of the concept of trauma-responsive care, recognising the prevalence of trauma in people’s lives and acknowledging potential effects that this can have on individuals, families, networks & communities. On 9th January 2024, 550 colleagues from across the GM system attended a VRU-sponsored event to hear about work that has been happening across Greater Manchester to achieve our goal of being an ACE and trauma responsive city-region, of which Mandem Meetup attended and participated at in partnership with We Are Survivors. This activity is central to the Greater Than Violence strategy, within which becoming a trauma responsive city region is one of 5 core principles.



Given their proximity to the VRU’s activity via Trauma Responsive GM and the terms of reference of all VRU delivery groups, Mandem Meetup have been awarded £10,000 in grant funding from the GM VRU to support the delivery of Mandem Meetup Trauma Responsive activity in 2024, and this Decision Notice seeks authorisation to proceed with this funding award.

In return for the funding, the VRU will require Mandem Meetup to report on outcomes per schedule 1 of the grant funding agreement.