Expansion boost for Get Warrington Talking suicide prevention

Warrington Speak Up, a registered charity based in The Gateway in Sankey Street, says it is delighted to have received additional funding to extend its Get Warrington Talking project.

Through local events, networking, campaigns and conversations, the project creates a culture of knowledge and understanding around mental health, mental illness and suicide prevention in the town.

Until recently the work on the project was delivered voluntarily by Ian McClure, but the funding has allowed him to be recruited as a full-time project lead.

Despite the pandemic Ian has helped lead many notable campaigns and events, including the Darkness into Light Walk on World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 each year.

Ian McClure delivers a talk as part of the Get Warrington Talking project

This walk has grown from 108 participants in its first year to more than 250 this year, taking them along a ten-mile route of the River Mersey and Sankey Canal from Widnes to Warrington.

Planning for next year’s walk is already underway, and Get Warrington Talking anticipates further growth of this initiative.

Other recent events have included bringing the Battling Suicide Five-a-side Chess Bus to the town along with its giant street board.

Along with Get Warrington Talking champions, the events enabled more than three hundred conversations to take place with members of the public.

These are designed to help combat loneliness, end the stigma around mental health and add to a raised awareness of community support and suicide prevention initiatives in the town.

One initiative saw the Battling Suicide Five-a-side Chess Bus visit the town along with its giant street board

Ian said: “This is a brilliant opportunity to expand upon and promote some of the magnificent work groups like Enjoy Football, Talk Hub, Cheshire Wellness and Mental Fitness, Offload, Man Talk and Directions for Men have been doing to safeguard men’s mental fitness and guard against suicide.

“I am determined to see a growth in listening spaces – safe places where people can talk and have their feelings validated.”

Over the course of the next 12 months, Get Warrington Talking will pilot some pop-up spaces in community venues, with an emphasis on encouraging self-help, de-escalation and potential solutions.

It is well known that there is a particular need around the mental health and wellbeing of young people, so it will be essential to make sure that what happens in the space is co-produced by 18 to 25-year-olds.

Another event Ian organised took place at Warrington Hospital, where listening spaces were available on a converted American school bus for hospital employees.

Cake, tea and talk events help to Get Warrington Talking

Ian went on to say: “It was enthusiastically received by hospital employees at all levels.

“I am also keen to create social listening opportunities for wider keyworkers, who for 18 or more months have been under tremendous pressure.

“We launched a social supper for more than 40 keyworkers and volunteers at Mamars Bread and Cheese in Bridge Street last month, and it was heart-warming to listen to stories and hear laughter.”

Mandy Taviner, manager of Warrington Speak Up, says that while the work done by men’s support groups needs to be celebrated, there is a determination to increase support for women.

“Tragically, while more men die by suicide, women in fact attempt to take their own lives more often than men,” she said.

Volunters taking part in the Darkness into the Light walk

“We have already initiated Get Warrington Women Walking – a walk and talk group for women – and we have started a monthly Social Supper Club just for women.

“By connecting with each other, we can improve our mental fitness and resilience and have some laughter along the way too.”

As part of the Get Warrington Talking project, Ian is also looking to recruit volunteer champions to support the range of community-based activities and events that Get Warrington Talking initiates.

Champions typically have a lived experience of either coping with a mental illness or overcoming a mental health challenge, and all will be supported to develop the skills and confidence to share their journey or story as part of a human library.

To contact Ian directly, email GWT@warringtonspeakup.org.uk or call 01925 246938.