The Proper Blokes Club, a community project aimed at breaking the stigma around male mental health problems, has just set up a new branch in Rickmansworth.
The aim of the project is to get local lads together in a casual and friendly environment where they can talk openly whilst walking around town.
The first session took place at 7pm on Thursday, September 21, with attendees setting out for an hour-long walk.
RickyNews spoke to The Proper Blokes’ founder Scott Johnson to find out more about how the London-based group ended up opening a branch in Rickmansworth.
Scott said: “It all started in September 2020 around the area I live in, Southwark. I asked a bunch of local lads if they would join me for a walk and one lad showed up, then the next week a few more. A couple of years on and we have 12 walks happening around London every week and, as you know, one in Hertfordshire!
“We had a wonderful guy, Richard Kelly, leading the walk in Uxbridge and I asked him if he wanted to set up a branch where he lived, too. Turns out Richard’s from Rickmansworth, so we publicised Proper Blokes in a few Ricky groups and the uptake was amazing.
“We had 18 lads turn up for the first walk, which is a brilliant turnout. Since sharing the news on social media, quite a few more lads have said they’ll be joining next week.”
Asked why walking is so conducive to helping people to open up, Scott said: “The idea is to take these conversations beyond the ‘sit in a circle and take it in turns to talk’ setting. A lot of guys find that format intimidating.
“There are also a lot of benefits of getting people moving. Exercise releases endorphins, plus people can break off into little groups going at the same pace.
“The aim is to get a walk going in as many places as possible. That way, we can get men talking wherever they are.”
More information on how to get involved is available at theproperblokesclub.co.uk
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