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Men’s mental health charity founders named ‘Men & Boys Champions’
Co-founders of a Bristol-founded men’s mental health charity have been named among the inaugural “Men & Boys Champions” by the Centre for Policy Research for Men and Boys.
Ben Akers and Gavin Thorpe, co-founders of Talk Club, have been included in the list of inspiring individuals from across the country, recognising those championing and supporting men and boys across the UK.
The Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys is an independent research organisation and registered UK charity dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique challenges that boys and men face across society.
Responding to the recognition, Akers said: “It’s fantastic for both Gav and I to be included in this illustrious list.
“We set up Talk Club to be part of the solution, when it comes to a mentally fit society. And that’s what everyone on the list does, turns problems into solutions.
“Together we can create a better future for us all, because a mentally fit man is good for everyone.”
The newly created list highlights individuals making a meaningful difference to the lives of boys and men facing challenges in areas including health, education, employment, fatherhood, crime and identity.
The centre said the initiative was created “to do something simple: recognise the people who are genuinely making a difference to the lives of boys and men facing real challenges”.
The list includes well-known figures from politics, sports, the performing arts and academia, including David Lammy, Wes Streeting, Lawrence Dallaglio, David Gandy, Stephen Graham, Gareth Southgate, Anna Machin and Caitlin Moran.
The organisation said, “the conversation has shifted”, describing those included in the list as “thinkers, doers and campaigners from a wide range of backgrounds, all united by a common purpose”.
Talk Club has grown into a leading men’s mental health community, creating spaces where men can speak openly, reduce isolation and support each other – photo: Jon Riley
It described the inaugural list as “consciously subjective”, acknowledging the growing number of people working to improve outcomes for men and boys and signalling that future editions will expand recognition further.
Talk Club has grown into a leading men’s mental health community, creating spaces where men can speak openly, reduce isolation and support each other.
The organisation began in the back room of a pub in Southville in 2019 and became a registered charity in 2021.
The founders were inspired to launch Talk Club after first-hand experiences of the impact of mental health struggles and the lack of spaces for men to talk openly.
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The charity is built around one simple question: “How are you? Out of ten?” – encouraging men to express how they feel.
What began as a single group has grown into a national network of more than 150 Talk Clubs, including 26 in Bristol, offering peer-support sessions as well as Talk & Exercise groups, therapy and training.
The organisation has trained more than 700 volunteer captains to help facilitate sessions.
Talk Club has also received endorsements from high-profile figures including Liam Gallagher, IDLES, Troy Deeney and Tyson Fury, to help raise awareness of its work.
“We set up Talk Club to be part of the solution, when it comes to a mentally fit society,” said Ben Akers, co-founder of Talk Club – photo: Jon Riley
For 2025, Talk Club asked a different man each day how are they feeling out of ten and posted the score on Instagram to prompt a candid conversation around men’s mental health.
According to the founders, the charity began in response to the stark reality that suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK, where a life is taken every 90 minutes.
Talk Club aims to challenge stigma and provide men with the tools and space to talk, connect and improve their mental wellbeing.
To learn more about Talk Club, visit www.talkclub.org
Main photo: Damian Kerlin
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