Torness worker takes men’s mental health message to Downing Street

A member of Torness power station staff has visited Downing Street to support the launch of the UK Government’s Men’s Health Strategy.

Deputy Team Leader, Kevin Bolton, was invited to the event due to his work with Andy’s Man Club, a men’s suicide prevention charity offering free to attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK.

As well as his role in the station’s Environmental Safety Group, Kevin who lives in Berwick upon Tweed, promotes the charity and its work on site to colleagues.

Kevin has been involved with Andy’s Man Club since 2022, first as an attendee and now as one of their lead facilitators in the Berwick upon Tweed Club. The club meets every Monday night and gives local men a safe environment to talk about things going on in their life. There is no cost or booking required.

Kevin, along with fellow lead facilitator, David Hattle also carries out awareness days and presentations at Torness during Zero Harm Week and Mental Health Awareness Week. 

Kevin said: “This was an important event, held to coincide with International Men’s Day and I was honoured to be there. I was invited by my local MP, David Smith, and had a tour of Parliament before the Downing Street reception.

“Suicide is one of the biggest killers of men under 50 and three-quarters of all suicides are in men. I was pleased to be able to talk to the Prime Minister, the Health Secretary and others about the work Andy’s Man Club is doing in the community and at places like Torness to improve men’s mental health.”

The UK Government has promised £3.6m over the next three years for suicide prevention projects for middle-aged men in local communities where they are most at risk of taking their own lives. A new levy will also be charged on betting companies, and the government will trial ways to reduce substance-related deaths, including workplace pilots to bring health checks into male-dominated industries. 

Other guests at the reception included Jamie Carragher, Connor Cody, Aaron Lennon from the world of football; Scottish broadcaster, Gordon Smart; reality TV star and presenter, Pete Wicks and comedian, Adam Hills.

For further information contact: fiona.mccall@edf-energy.com.