Bishop Line CRP (BLCRP) set an objective to collaborate with local charities to take small but meaningful steps towards addressing suicide within the local area. To date, the partnership has worked with 2 charities that support individuals experiencing challenges long before they reach crisis point. One of those organisations is ManHealth.

ManHealth run support groups for men in and around County Durham and the North East of England. They also organise walks to encourage their men to meet up away from the group to help build community and friendship.

With support from the Community Rail Network and CrossCountry, BLCRP enabled ManHealth to deliver a year-long programme of monthly walks beginning at Bishop Line stations. The walks were designed to encourage men to meet outside of formal support group settings, helping to build social connections, friendships and a sense of community.

The project also aimed to enable participants to benefit from physical activity and time spent outdoors. By starting each walk at a railway station, the initiative sought to create a positive association between rail travel and activities that support health and well-being.

Between April and December 2025, ManHealth delivered 14 community walks, the majority of which started from a Bishop Line station. The walks were open to adult men of all ages and backgrounds.

Funding enabled ManHealth to support the safe and effective delivery of each walk through the recruitment of a qualified walk leader. The funding also contributed towards wider project coordination, promotion and contingency costs associated with delivering the programme across multiple locations. This included providing water and snacks for participants to enhance their overall experience.

The walks were publicised in advance on ManHealth’s Facebook page and shared on BLCRP’s Facebook page to reach new audiences. Approximately 130 participants attended the 14 walks, including men experiencing social isolation, poor mental wellbeing or low levels of physical activity.

Despite the charity’s own financial challenges, ManHealth remained committed to delivering the project. Although the project was originally due to run for 12 months, ManHealth announced that it would cease its community work from January 2026. In response, the charity’s team worked extremely hard to deliver more than the agreed number of walks before operations came to an end.

Results

The project demonstrated strong value for money. The funding enabled ManHealth to engage men who may not otherwise access traditional health and wellbeing services.

The project achieved the following outcomes:

  • Increased participation in regular, low-barrier physical activity.
  • Reduced social isolation through informal peer connections.
  • Improved confidence and wellbeing among participants.
  • Strengthened engagement with community spaces linked to Bishop Line rail stations.

Participant feedback consistently highlighted:

  • The value of the relaxed, non-clinical nature of the walks.
  • Opportunities to talk openly while being physically active.

Feedback from ManHealth highlighted:

  • The funding played a vital role in enabling accessible, community-based wellbeing activities and strengthening connections between local rail infrastructure and community health initiatives.

Paul Bannister, Chief Executive Officer of ManHealth, stated:

“A really important part of the work we do with our men involves encouraging them to exercise and get outside in the fresh air and sunlight. The ManWalks really help us to build connection in a different way and prove to be really effective.”