Welcome to the Mental Health Mates Walk Leader guide, we are so grateful to you for your support and excited to help you get started!
At MHM, our walks are a dedicated safe space for people to walk and talk without fear of judgment. Our Walk Leaders are an essential part of this. Be it in person or online, as a Walk Leader you will help create a safe environment for people to talk, share and listen with other members of the MHM community.
In this pack we will guide you through each stage of organising your own Walk. If there is anything in the pack that feels confusing or overwhelming please email us at hello@mentalhealthmates.co.uk. Remember, we are here to help you.
If you would like to download a copy of this guide, please do so here.
At Mental Health Mates, our Walk Leaders are at the heart of our organisation. With their openness, dedication and ability to bring people together, our Walk Leaders are, and continue to be, the reason Mental Health Mates is the inclusive and flourishing community it is today, making a difference to so many people.
Being a Walk Leader is a wonderful opportunity to connect with your local community and provide a safe and supportive environment for your peers. Planning routes, promoting Walks and connecting community members are just a few of the meaningful responsibilities of an MHM Walk Leader. For some members of the MHM community, our Walks are a vital part of their routine, which is why it is important that as a Walk Leader, with our support, you are prepared to commit to the role.
As a Walk Leader you are there to encourage, support and lead your group members, enabling them to experience the positive effects that walking and talking can have on their mental health!
“Leading MHMs Newcastle I feel I have found a little community of genuinely lovely people who want to be there for each other in good times and bad. certainly never had anyone I could talk openly to about my mental health before getting involved. The relaxed and informal nature of the meet ups helps to ease the nerves and there’s never any pressure to open up, but when we do the support is always there.”
Kate, Leeds Walk Leader
Please email hello@mentalhealthmates.co.uk with the following:
We will then set you up as a Walk Leader, providing any additional guidance or support you might need and you can get started.
TIPS:
We encourage you to create your own MHM email (e.g. mhmwindsor@gmail.com) for the walks so that you won’t have to share your personal information. You can create your MHM email address with yahoo, hotmail or gmail and share it with us.
With your new email address, send us your chosen location, date, time and poster to hello@mentalhealthmates.co.uk. We can then advertise your walk or meet up on our website and social channels.
We have a selection of posters for you to add your information to – to access our Poster Guide click here.
TIPS:
We encourage creating your own Instagram page to share your posters, walk photos and to connect with us and other MHM members.
For reference, here are some examples of current MGM IG accounts:
@mhm_beverley
@mhm.reading
@mentalhealthmatesandover
Please join our Facebook page here and email us to be made an Admin in order to share your posters with our Facebook MHM community.
*If you are unable to or would rather not engage with social media this is more than okay. We will always publicise details of your work on our website and through our MHM Instagram account; you will just need to ensure that details are shared locally in some format.
‘Do you live locally?’
‘How did you find out about MHM?’
‘Is this your first walk here?’
Meet ups can vary from two to twenty people. However, if only one person turns up, it is still worth it. We understand it takes time to build a group and we want to stress that it is not a reflection on you! Remember, everyone has bad days or emergencies that stop them from attending. Don’t be disheartened, we can discuss what extra help might be needed to promote the walk.
Please do not worry – we will handle it. These things can happen, don’t put pressure on yourself! Just be sure to let us know.
If the weather is forecasted to be bad, understandably fewer people might turn up than expected. Our members depend on our Walks to be consistent and reliable, so please be prepared to run your walk, come rain or shine!
If a member is struggling to cope please always direct them to the support resources listed here.
We have shared a lot of information with you, so if you feel overwhelmed or have more questions, do not worry. Please email us at hello@mentalhealthmates.co.uk and we can answer or advise on any questions or queries you might have.
Remember to take it easy. Becoming a Walk Leader is wonderful thing to do, but do not push yourself. Always let us know if you are struggling, we understand and we are here to help.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our Walk Leader guide. Mental Health Mates would be nothing without the incredible Walk Leaders that are passionate about upholding our community. We are so excited for you to lead your meet up and become a part of this community – welcome to Mental Heath Mates.
MHM Team,
Xx
Download this guide as a pdf Download the guide to making postersDisclaimer: Mental Health Mates is not supposed to take the place of professional treatment and therapy. For advice and help, please look at the list of amazing charities you can talk to here: www.mind.org.uk.
All content copyright Mental Health Mates 2020
Website developed by Business Arch Expertise Ltd