Brandon Men’s Breakfast Club Provides Vital Support

According to its organizer, a breakfast club has established a secure environment for men to gather and offer mutual support. The Brandon Men’s Breakfast Club was founded by Paul Cleasby, a church warden, at St Peter’s Parish Church in the Suffolk village of Brandon. Mr. Cleasby, aged 56, had previously established a comparable club in Benfleet, Essex, which remains active. He observed a lack of dedicated spaces for men to congregate in Brandon and described the monthly gathering as “valuable” for the community. Mr. Cleasby elaborated, stating, “There’s always stuff for ladies that goes on through the week.” He added, “There’s nothing for guys who work and there’s no sort of guy space for those who don’t want to go to the pub, or they don’t want to go to the football.” He concluded, “That was what was behind it – giving guys a space.” The assembly convenes on the first Saturday of every month, and Mr. Cleasby indicated that the primary objective of the group is to address men’s mental health and wellbeing. Data from Samaritans shows that in 2023, the male suicide rate stood at 17.1 per 100,000 individuals, in contrast to a female suicide rate of 5.6 per 100,000. The highest suicide rate was observed among males aged 45 to 49. Mr. Cleasby expressed his hope that the club offers a secure setting where men can articulate their worries. While the club once attracted approximately 30 participants, Mr. Cleasby noted that currently around 15 individuals attend to enjoy a full English breakfast, prepared by him. The gathering has proven beneficial for its members, each of whom has distinct motivations for participating. Additionally, male guest speakers are frequently invited to present on diverse subjects. Mr. Cleasby further recounted, “What really sold it for me was when my wife had an accident and I had to miss one.” He elaborated, “I had to cancel it last minute because I was at the hospital and someone wrote a note saying they were sad about missing their breakfast.” He reflected, “I’m not the world’s best cook… it made me think that perhaps that’s the one day they get out and get to meet other guys.” He concluded, “That’s what really drives me to continue to do it.” Martin Madelin, 50, who relocated to Brandon five years prior, has been a participant in the club for approximately two years. He also assists Mr. Cleasby with the club’s setup, meal preparation, and cleanup. Mr. Madelin stated that the group offers immense value to men confronting mental health challenges, but he emphasized that its benefits extend beyond that. He clarified, “It’s not just about mental health, it’s just about being.” He noted, “Brandon has quite an elderly demographic.” He continued, “A lot of people go there to retire or people’s family have left or their widows, and they find themselves in a little town in the middle of nowhere without a lot of support.” He added, “[The club] very often becomes the highlight of their month where this is the one time of the month they can go and enjoy a good meal without having to cook for themselves.” He concluded, “It’s really valuable for anybody who finds themselves in a situation of loneliness, even if they’re not lonely, just to be there and have a bit of comradery and enjoy a good breakfast.” Mr. Cleasby mentioned his continuous search for male guest speakers and urged any interested individuals to get in touch with the church. He further commented, “At the end of the day it’s a small thing that I can do, it’s nothing massive and if everybody did their small thing the world would be a different place.” He expressed, “I would love to encourage other guys to start similar groups, I really would.” For updates on Suffolk news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.