Multiply events elevate men’s mental and physical health
Carpentry courses and weight training classes helped break down social isolation while also developing learners’ numeracy and practical skills
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Multiply team have been holding Movember events to support men’s mental and physical health.
Movember is a worldwide charity which aims to help men live happier, healthier, longer lives.
To support the charity’s mission, Multiply co-ordinated events including carpentry sessions, in which participants built benches and raised vegetable beds, and weightlifting classes
‘Make the Reps Count: An Intro to Weight Training and Numeracy’, has been taking place at The Barn at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay (remaining sessions on January 15, 22 and 29).
The course, held in collaboration with Bangor Muddogs American Football team, builds learners’ numeracy confidence while also enhancing their physical and mental health.
Qualified personal trainer Costa Yianni helps learners develop their gym skills, while they also use numeracy skills to measure distances, track information, calculate weights and measure their heart rates.
Costa said: “Exercise is brilliant for people’s mental health and I can see this programme is working for the lads.
“I’ve noticed in these sessions we’ve been doing with the Muddogs, you’ll have people who are not sure about coming to the class - they think they can’t do exercise or won’t know anybody. Then, within 10 or 20 minutes, they realise they should have done this a long time ago.
“It’s about taking that first step into the class and then you’ll see that the support is there, which is great for mental health.”
In Llandudno, bench-making classes were held at Crest Cooperative’s Happitat store, in collaboration with Conwy Employment Hub.
The sessions aimed to break down the barriers of social isolation, while also helping learners develop skills which could help them find employment. The benches built by learners will be donated to local community groups.
Judith Roberts, community employment mentor for Conwy Employment Hub, said: “When people have done the courses, when they come away feeling more confident and are asking to do more - that’s really good.
“We’re trying to create a positive learning environment and hoping people will get a hunger for learning out of it, and go on and do other things and fulfil their potential.”
“It’s about empowering people and helping them realise they can do more than they feel they can.”
In Caernarfon, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor lecturer and Multiply tutor Jakub Gawel led sessions building raised timber beds at Porthi Dre community hub.
One of the learners taking part was Cai Samuel, Coordinator at Caban y Cofis in Caernarfon.
He said: “Working together created a supportive environment, where we could talk openly and focus on our well-being.
“While taking part in the activity, we had the opportunity to talk, have a bit of fun and learn more about woodworking. We are now looking forward to growing vegetables in the summer!”