Thank you National Lottery Players!

Karl Hart
Mar 13, 2023
2 min read

Men Only IOW Receives Lottery Funding.

In 2022, we applied for core cost funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, to allow us to continue to support our communities men. We are so pleased to announce that we have been successful in our bid and awarded £180,696.00 over the next three years. This money will allow us to keep providing our service here in Ryde and across the Island.

On Sunday, the 13th of March, at the Ryde Depository in Nelson Street, we held our walk and talk group and celebrated our news with our regular walkers and with tea, cake and biscuits, of course!

Cllr Michael Lilley - Mayor of Ryde, Vice-Chair of IW Council and IW Mental Health Champion, said:

"I am delighted to hear the wonderful news of Men-Only's successful bid! This award from the national lottery is so well deserved, as this Ryde-based grass-roots initiative highlights. Men Only recognise the issue of men's mental health and that men are four times more likely to choose suicide than women and four times less likely to ask for help. Research has shown that men are more likely to respond to male-led peer support projects than mainstream support from NHS, and Men-Only has proven this with their fantastic work.

Ryde Town Council and IW Council's Public Health Council have recognised Men-Only and its innovation; we have provided grants and seen this fantastic project hit targets way above what was predicted.

80% of suicides on the Isle of Wight are men, so projects like this led by men will reduce this tragic percentage. As Mayor of Ryde, I know Ryde Town Council is committed to supporting community projects like this and the mental well-being of Ryde residents. As Vice-Chair of the IW Council and IW Council's Mental Health Champion, I am doubly delighted as Men-Only supports men experiencing depression and anxiety across the Island.

Well done Men-Only, and keep up the good work."