Proper Blokes Walk and Talk for mental health
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What’s a proper bloke? Scott Johnson, the driving force behind the Proper Blokes Club, asks this question when he introduces the community group, which helps men look after their mental health through walking and talking.
“Where I’m from, the term ‘bloke’ is bandied around all the time,” says Scott. “A proper bloke in my eyes is someone that doesn’t change any of their personality or their characteristics, but they have an empathetic ear, and they’re going to answer the question ‘how are you doing?’ honestly.”
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, spotlighting an issue that has become more and more prominent in the national conversation in recent years. Proper Blokes Club has grown from its origins here in Southwark to now run 14 walks a week and counting across various London boroughs.
Scott motivates men to help themselves feel better through outdoor exercise
Scott was born and bred in Bermondsey, but it was a walk he’d set up in Rickmansworth that helped the group get more involved with British Land. A member of British Land’s Canada Water team came down to join up with the group, to get out and about and help look after his own mental wellbeing. “I told him about what we were doing in Southwark and he said, I’m 100% behind this, this is a really good thing,” recalls Scott. “He told me about the work that British Land are doing with funding community projects and introduced me to the community team.”
Kita Berman van Heerden, Deputy Strategic Lead at Canada Water Connect, is Scott’s main point of contact for British Land. “From when I initially had contact with her to securing the funding was a really smooth and quick process, which helped us get on and start making an impact,” says Scott. “Kita was on board from the very start, she’s been really supportive.”
Funding from British Land and other sources helps pay for Scott, who works as a football coach at Sutton United, to devote his time to delivering the programmes, for marketing and promotion, and for hire of spaces to run drop-in sessions and exhibitions. “The drop-ins create another space for men that might be a bit lacking in confidence,” says Scott.”
Scott (orange t-shirt) and a team of Proper Blokes on a walk by the south coast
These events serve as an entry point for men to get involved with the group and join one of the walks, getting out in the open air, releasing endorphins and finding a safe space to talk about whatever’s on their mind. “We talk to each other about anything, but oftentimes we can talk about things we might not ever have spoken about to our best friends we’ve had for years,” says John, a regular on the walks. “This group is a huge lifeline to many.”
Jeremy, another regular on the walks, adds: “I joined to be part of blokes listening to each other, lifting each other out of any pit, mud or mire they’re in. Plus of course, it helps sometimes to just get out of the house and simply wWalk & Ttalk, that’s what it says on the tin!”
Proper Blokes Club Team Southwark meet at the Angel pub in Rotherhithe at 6.30pm on Thursdays and 8.30am on Sundays. Come along and join a magnificent four-mile walk along the south side of the Thames path to the historic docklands.
To find out more, contact Proper Blokes club using the details below:
07937 501110
