Latest news with #BlackCountryBlokes
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mental health podcaster on month of fundraiser runs
The co-founder of a men's mental health podcast is running every day in May to raise money for a charity that supports his daughter. Lee Cadman, who is one half of Black Country Blokes, has run 5km (3.1miles) each day since the start of the month, to raise awareness of a condition called Dravet Syndrome and funds for medical research. He has been posting on social media, having been inspired by his daughter who has the severe neurological condition. Mr Cadman and fellow podcaster Kevin Dillon were recently awarded a King's Award for Voluntary Service. They spoke to BBC WM about men's mental health, highlighting the benefits of writing a gratitude list and doing daily exercise. To anyone dealing with mental issues, Mr Cadman said "you have to open up". "You have to find someone who you trust, who you can open up to," he said. "It doesn't have to be a professional. It can be a friend, it can be your wife, it can be anyone, just find someone who you can open to. "Hopefully, that will be a positive experience for you and that person will listen. For the person who is listening, that's all you've got to do. You've just got to listen. You don't need to solve the problem, you have to listen." Mr Dillon said the "best friend" of any mental health issue was loneliness and he urged people to try to avoid being alone when problematic feelings arose. "By knocking down those walls and showing people you're not alone, it gives them the strength to talk and to be there," he said. "We feel weak for feeling emotional, but we should have emotions, we should be happy and sad - all those wonderful things - because we're human beings." During his fundraising, Mr Cadman has also posted on Facebook that it "isn't just a run". "It's a lifeline. It's a message. It's me saying enough. Enough silence. Enough feeling alone," he wrote. The Black Country Blokes group runs a podcast, radio slot, daily boxing and fitness classes and a Thought for the Day on social media. It evolved from founder Mr Dillon's plans to create a boxing gym where men could open up about their problems and fears. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Awards recognise volunteers giving time to others Black Country Blokes Dravet Syndrome UK
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Black Country Blokes mental health podcaster in fundraising runs
The co-founder of a men's mental health podcast is running every day in May to raise money for a charity that supports his Cadman, who is one half of Black Country Blokes, has been on 5km (3.1miles) each day since the start of the month, to raise awareness of a condition called Dravet Syndrome and funds for medical has been posting on social media about his runs, having been inspired by his daughter who has the severe neurological Cadman and fellow podcaster Kevin Dillon have spoken to BBC WM about men's mental health, highlighting the benefits of writing a gratitude list and doing daily exercise. To anyone dealing with mental issues, Mr Cadman said "you have to open up". "You have to find someone who you trust, who you can open up to," he said. 'Be someone who listens' "It doesn't have to be a professional. It can be a friend, it can be your wife, it can be anyone, just find someone who you can open to."Hopefully, that will be a positive experience for you and that person will listen. For the person who is listening, that's all you've got to do. You've just got to listen. You don't need to solve the problem, you have to listen." Mr Dillon said the "best friend" of any mental health issue was loneliness and he urged people to try to avoid being alone when problematic feelings arise."By knocking down those walls and showing people you're not alone, it gives them the strength to talk and to be there," he said. "We feel weak for feeling emotional, but we should have emotions, we should be happy and sad – all those wonderful things – because we're human beings." 'Enough feeling alone' During his fundraising, Mr Cadman has also posted on Facebook that it "isn't just a run"."It's a lifeline. It's a message. It's me saying enough. Enough silence. Enough feeling alone," he wrote. The Black Country Blokes group runs a podcast, radio slot, daily boxing and fitness classes and a Thought for the Day on social evolved from founder Mr Dillon's plans to create a boxing gym where men could open up about their problems and fears. Recently, the pair were awarded a King's Award for Voluntary Service. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
06-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
West Midlands King's Awards recognise volunteers helping others
Volunteers in areas including conservation, care and mental health support are being award for their contributions. Nineteen community groups from across the West Midlands will be presented with a King's Award for Voluntary Service on Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands Derrick Anderson said it was to recognise "the many wonderful people who give their precious time to others".The organisations being recognised are based in Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and elsewhere in the Black Country. Among recipients will be Black Country Blokes, which supports the mental health of men in the group offers a podcast, radio slot, daily boxing and fitness classes and a Thought for the Day on social media, and evolved from founder Kevin Dillon's plans to create a boxing gym where men could open up about their problems and fears."Their approach works and makes talking and connecting accessible," the lieutenancy said. Friends of Di's Kitchen, which delivers meals in Wolverhampton, is also being there deliver food to more than 800 people each week, with extra treats provided on birthdays, Easter and Christmas, especially for children. Warwick Volunteers is offering a "win-win for all" through the support it gives to overseas students, organisers group places students in volunteer positions, working in areas from nature conservation to foodbanks, and also provides language skills for refugees, so that the students gain confidence and Anderson said the groups brought communities together and improved lives, adding the awards would make for an "uplifting and heartwarming" presents the awards on Sunday at the ICC in Birmingham city centre. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular Wordsley pub reopens after £260k makeover
A WORDSLEY pub has reopened after a £260k makeover. The Glassworks pub reopened its doors to customers on Thursday February 6 having been closed since January 13 for improvement works to take place. Following the revamp, the popular Marston's pub in Camp Hill introduces the 'Two Door Pub' concept - offering a refreshed locals bar area with 4K big-screen TVs, Sky Sports, TNT and a pool table – and a dedicated warm and welcoming family lounge, with a central partition separating the spaces. The interior décor has also been given a lift with new wallpaper, stylish lighting, new seating, and new colour tones. The new-look pub, which is dog-friendly and has a large beer garden, also has a function room for any occasion. Brierley Hill boxing coach Kevin Dillion, who started the Black Country Blokes podcast in 2019 to help highlight men's mental health issues, was chosen as the pub's community hero to pull the first pint in celebration of the re-opening. Kevin said: 'Community is so important when it comes to mental health. Talking is the key. Whether it's down at the pub or at the gym, find a like-minded soul who you can talk and listen to; that conversation might just save someone's life.' General manager John Griffiths was excited to showcase the pub's 'amazing refresh'. He said: 'With the inclusion of new TV's and sports channels, we hope our customers join us to enjoy this year's big summer of sports. We have invested a huge £260k into breathing new life into the venue and can't wait to welcome our loyal customers back.'
