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WELLBEING
TURNING LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO POSITIVE CHANGE BY JESS TRIGGS, POSITIVITY CLUB CIC
At Positivity Club CIC, mental health support starts with connection. Sometimes that connection begins with a conversation, a cup of tea, a walk, or simply knowing there is someone there who will listen without judgement.
The ethos behind the organisation is simple:“ We don’ t fix, we hold space.” Not every problem needs an immediate solution, and nobody is expected to have all the answers. Sometimes people simply need someone to sit alongside them, listen and remind them that they do not have to face everything alone. That belief is at the heart of two new projects which have grown directly from lived experience. Men’ s Morning Brew was inspired by my friend Richie, while Time for Tee Total has developed from my own journey towards sobriety and my ADHD diagnosis.
Men’ s Morning Brew, in honour of Richie Richie was passionate about starting a men’ s mental health support group with me. We talked about creating somewhere men could get together, have a brew, get some fresh air and, most importantly, have the opportunity to talk. Richie also had his own radio show, Richie’ s Morning Brew, so the name Men’ s Morning Brew felt like the perfect tribute. Sadly, Richie is no longer here to see the idea become reality, but we want his passion for helping others to live on through the group.
I have the pleasure of running Men’ s Morning Brew with Jamie Turner, owner of Map. Jamie has an incredibly approachable nature and speaks openly about his own experiences with mental health and wellbeing. He shares my passion for supporting others and creating safe spaces where people can talk, share their stories and seek support without pressure or judgement.
Every Monday morning at 6.30am, we meet at Map Coffee and Lounge in Hoylake, grab a brew and walk towards the beach and back. The group is deliberately informal, and there is no expectation that anyone has to talk about anything personal. People can simply come along, walk, have a coffee and spend time with others.
For many men, talking about mental health can still feel difficult. Walking side by side can often make those conversations feel more natural, removing some of the pressure that can come with sitting face to face. Nobody needs to know exactly what to say or have everything figured out, and sometimes simply being heard can make a real difference. We have also connected with Men’ s Path Support, who run fortnightly Tuesday evening groups at St Catherine’ s Church in Hoylake at 7.30pm. We are looking forward to working alongside them and encouraging more men across the local community to find connection and support.
Introducing Time for Tee Total I am approaching one year sober, and the experience has encouraged me to look differently at alcohol, mental health and wellbeing. Following my ADHD diagnosis last year, I also began researching the relationship between ADHD and alcohol and became interested in some of the reasons people may use alcohol as a way of coping.
Research suggests that ADHD and alcohol use problems can occur together more frequently than would be expected by chance, although having ADHD does not mean somebody will develop problems with alcohol. Possible factors identified by researchers include impulsivity, difficulties with emotional regulation, reward seeking and using alcohol to cope with stress or difficult emotions.
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For some people with ADHD, alcohol may initially feel as though it helps them switch off, quieten a busy mind or feel more relaxed socially. Those short term effects can then be followed by poorer sleep, changes in mood and other negative consequences. Learning more about this relationship made me wonder whether some people may be using alcohol to cope with difficulties they do not yet fully understand. That question became part of the inspiration behind Time for Tee Total.
The group is designed to be a relaxed, friendly and non judgemental space for people who want to explore their relationship with alcohol. You do not have to identify as having a drinking problem to attend. You might simply want to drink less, take a break, explore sobriety, understand your habits or meet other people on a similar journey. My own journey has not been something I have had to navigate alone. Joining the online community Sober Glimmers has been a huge source of support, giving me somewhere to hear other people’ s experiences, ask questions, celebrate milestones and connect with others who understand. That experience reinforced something I already believe strongly through my work at Positivity Club, which is that community matters, particularly when people are going through periods of change or uncertainty.
Time for Tee Total aims to bring that same sense of support and connection into a local community setting. It is about listening, sharing experiences, learning from one another and creating somewhere people can come exactly as they are. There are also a number of podcasts exploring ADHD, mental health, recovery and wellbeing, including ADHD Chatter, On The Mend, Happy Place and We Need to Talk. Across Wirral there is also a growing network of support available through organisations including Wirral Ways, Life Is a Gift Support Group, REK41 and Tomorrow’ s Women.
How to get involved Men’ s Morning Brew takes place every Monday at 6.30am, meeting at Map Coffee and Lounge in Hoylake before walking to the beach and back. Anyone is welcome to come along for a brew, a walk and some company, with no pressure to talk about anything they are not comfortable sharing. Time for Tee Total will take place monthly on Monday evenings, beginning on Monday 2nd November at 7.30pm at Positivity Club CIC on Market Street in Hoylake. Whether you are considering drinking less, taking a break, becoming sober or simply thinking more carefully about your relationship with alcohol, the group is open to you.
For more information about Men’ s Morning Brew, Time for Tee Total or any of the other support available through Positivity Club CIC, visit www. positivityclubcic. co. uk or email jess @ positivityclubcic. co. uk.
Both projects are ultimately about the same thing: creating connection before crisis and giving people somewhere they can talk without fear of judgement. Through Men’ s Morning Brew, we hope to carry Richie’ s idea forward in his honour, while Time for Tee Total aims to show that positive change can begin with curiosity, conversation and community.
At the heart of both groups is the belief that people do not always need someone to fix things for them. Sometimes they simply need someone willing to listen and a place where they feel comfortable enough to turn up.