OUr mission

The adopted term of ‘MAN UP’ as we know it, needs to be challenged.

Don’t just brush yourself down & get on with it.

That's our focus, that’s our mission.

Our Journey

Discover the steps we've taken and the work we've done to bring awareness and support to men's mental health.

Where we started Where it changed

Happening now

At MANUP?, we are proud to be the only men’s mental health charity funding groundbreaking research by Dr. Susie Bennett at Glasgow University, focusing on why men are struggling with mental health issues. Beyond research, we provide free therapy group sessions for any man in need—always without charge. Social media plays a significant role, accounting for 60% of our work, where we primarily showcase male characters overcoming mental health problems, rather than suffering from them. This positive portrayal helps us collaborate with businesses, schools, the NHS, and other charities to break down the stigma around male mental health.

In addition to our social media efforts, we offer educational webinars, accessible to all, covering a range of men’s mental health topics. These sessions not only support men directly but also aim to educate others on how to listen better and foster deeper engagement with those struggling. We also organise regular events, both in-person and online, to raise awareness and reach places where social media might not, further promoting community support and involvement.

Where Your Support Has Taken Us

The Impact of Every Pound

Every donation to MANUP? is a vital contribution to a journey. No charity can thrive on air alone, but we take huge pride in ensuring that every pound you've entrusted us with has been maximised. This page is a testament to that trust – a transparent showcase of our impact together.

FUNDING Research & supporting Advocacy

Delving into the complexities of male mental health has been a key focus at MANUP?. Our efforts have included:

We are directly funding and collaborating with doctors and PhD researchers to investigate the high male death rates. Our year-long campaign aims to uncover why men face systemic barriers even when discussing their challenges. The resulting report could significantly influence the overstretched NHS mental health system. To our knowledge, we are the only men's mental health charity, and possibly the only mental health charity in the UK, directly funding research into men's mental health.
We are thoroughly evaluating how services, society, and charities address men’s mental health challenges. This comprehensive assessment aims to identify gaps and improve the effectiveness of support systems, ensuring men receive the help they need to overcome mental health issues.
Using our findings, we aim to challenge and change policies and societal attitudes towards men’s mental health. Our goal is to create a responsive and supportive environment that better addresses the mental health needs of men, ensuring they receive the care and understanding they deserve.
We engage with MPs and policymakers to question laws, guidelines and rules, addressing why men often seem to be overlooked. Our advocacy efforts aim to highlight these disparities and push for changes that prioritise men's mental health, ensuring a more equitable approach in policy and practice.

providing Direct Aid & Community Support

The core of MANUP? lies in the events we’ve organised and the direct aid we’ve provided. Achievements include:

Our Events Page showcases the wide range of activities designed to tackle the stigma surrounding men's mental health. By financially supporting others to start their own events, we extend our reach and effectiveness, empowering communities to address mental health challenges more effectively. This collaboration not only amplifies our impact but also fosters a collective effort to improve men's mental health across the UK.
We have made critical mental health care more accessible by covering therapy costs for individuals in need. Additionally, we provide regular online therapy sessions, with all costs covered upfront, ensuring they are free at the point of use. These efforts are vital in supporting men's mental health across the UK, making it easier for those in need to receive essential care.
We have extended our funding for mental health support phone lines with two charities, ensuring they remain operational for an additional six to twelve months. This funding provides vital ongoing support and helps these charities free up more time to continue and expand their assistance to men facing various issues. Our efforts are focused on ensuring that men across the UK have access to the help they need, when they need it most.
We provide essential support to other mental health charities, including staffing during difficult times and repairing vehicles for community use. By helping these charities expand their internal teams and enhance their resources, we significantly boost their capacity to assist men with mental health challenges. Our contributions ensure these organisations can continue their crucial work, broadening their reach and impact.
We conduct training sessions to educate and empower individuals about mental health, focusing on the social enterprise and charity sectors where budgets are incredibly stretched. These sectors often have the most significant impact within various communities. Our training helps organisations maximise their effectiveness and extend their reach, ensuring they can continue to provide crucial mental health support.
We have supported a family by contributing to rehabilitation costs, enabling them to keep their loved one in treatment while maintaining their family home. Additionally, we have collaborated with a charity to provide staffing support as they assist men battling addictions. These efforts are vital in ensuring individuals receive the necessary care and support during challenging times, helping them rebuild their lives.
MANUP? Mountain, our tough annual retreat designed for men who face life's battles head-on. Set in rugged mountain locations across the UK, these events are about pushing limits, forging bonds, and embracing the raw power of nature.

Operational COSTS

Embracing fiscal responsibility, we’ve run MANUP? on a shoestring budget, focusing on essentials such as:

Running a charity involves essential costs, including office rent and administrative expenses like correspondence, printing, postage, and travel. These expenditures are necessary to continue our mission effectively and efficiently, supporting men across the UK. By transparently managing these costs, we maintain the integrity and impact of our work
Our branded merchandise not only promotes the charity and its causes but also serves as an investment to empower our fundraisers. By providing these items upfront, we give our supporters more tools and incentives to succeed in their fundraising efforts, enhancing their ability to spread awareness and support for men's mental health across the UK.
Our dedicated team is essential to our mission. Despite not having full-time staff, every MANUP? member goes above and beyond, balancing their personal lives and businesses with their commitment to our cause. Their dedication helps us run our administrative costs on a shoestring budget, enabling us to allocate more resources to our initiatives. This unwavering commitment and efficiency highlight the passion which drives our efforts to support men's mental health across the UK.
Travel can be a significant expense, but we strive to minimise these costs by only travelling to locations where we can make a meaningful impact. We primarily use trains, which allows us to travel quickly, continue working on the go, and reduce our carbon footprint. Importantly, when engaging with businesses, we ensure they cover these travel expenses, allowing us to use fundraising money more effectively for our initiatives.

Our Ultimate Goal

At MANUP?, our ultimate aim is to render ourselves obsolete. We envision a future where the stigma surrounding men’s mental health is eradicated and effective support systems are universally accessible. Until that day, we remain steadfast in our mission, committed to making a lasting impact and supporting men across the UK.

SUMMARY

Your support has empowered us to make real differences. Every penny donated has been a step towards dismantling barriers and building a world where mental health is openly discussed and adequately supported. Together, we are more than a charity; we are a movement.