Friday 12 April 2013

News Update #4 April 2013

Have a read of this month's news update if you want to:
  • Respond to our invitation to help us create The Big Man Gathering 2
  • Find out about some great events for men of faith and spirit
  • Read about Men Beyond 50 joining forces with MENSTALK in London 
  • Hear about this month's featured men's event - a retreat with David Polak 
  • Get an overview of a wide range of men's events happening in April and May 
  • Find out about Simon Jacob's new London Men's Group
  • Think about joining an integral men's group 
  • Consider writing about men and men's issues 
Help Us Create The Big Man Gathering 2013

Last year a number of men's groups came together to create the first ever "Big Man Gathering" together and now we've started to plan the Big Man Gathering 2. It's scheduled to take place near Brighton at the end of September and we'd love to hear from you if want to get involved this year. Read more here.......

Faith-baased men's groups on the rise 

Faith-based men's groups are becoming more popular in the UK hosting some great events listed on this site like Wanted in Scotland,the Authentic Men Weekend in Wales and the Christian Vision for Men(CVM) June gathering near Swindon

We are planning to bring some of these groups together at a "men of faith and spirit" event as part of this year's Third National Conference for Men and Boys. If you'd like to find our more about this event click here now.....

Men Beyond 50 joining forces with MENSTALK in London 

It's always great to see different men's groups building relationships and finding ways of working together. One example is the expansive Men Beyond 50 who have now joined forces with Kenny D'Cruz's MENSPEAK to create a new men's group in London for guys over 50. To find out more follow this link......

Events For Men In April and May

Our list of events for men around the UK is steadily growing with the listings for the next weeks alone featuring MensCraft, the ManKind Project, MALE Men’s Rites of Passage, the Brahma Kumaris, Noble Man and  Nick Clements, to name but a few.

We'd also like to remind you that men across Europe (and that includes men from the UK) are gathering in Germany in May for an International Symposium. If you want to take part in this international event see the website here for more information see the Men-Maenner website.

For a list of events in April and May click here and for a list of events throughout 2013 see here. 

Weekend Retreat With David Polak 

Our featured event this month is David Polak's weekend retreat which takes place in the Newmarket area (31 May to 2 June).

The retreat - called 'Crossing The Threshold' will use a variety of creative methods, including group work, time in nature, music and ritual. 


New Men's Group With Simon Jacobs

Thanks to Simon Jacobs for sending us information about his new Mens' Group starting in London in May. To read more about Simon's work click here now....

Do you want to join or start an Integral Men's Group?

A group of men in Brighton are running an Integral Men's Group with the intention of developing a template that you can use to start your own integral men's group if you want to. The project is in its early stages and if you want to join or connect or find out more follow this link......

Do You Have Something You Want To Say About Men

I am working on a new project to give people who have something to say about men and men's stuff a platform. The project is in partnership with an existing online magazine with around 10 million readers. If you are interesting in writing about men, men's work, men's issues etc and want a bigger audience do drop me a line to glen@glenpoole.com

That's All Folks.......

To see previous news updates, click here now and if you have an item you'd like to see included in our May news update please contact glen@glenpoole.com by Friday 26 April. 

And do please feel free to forward a link to this page to everyone you know who will be interested. 




Thursday 11 April 2013

Some events for men in April/May


APRIL 2013

Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April: MensCraft Dads and Kids Weekend, Norfolk

Friday 10th May to Sunday 12th May: Keeping The Edges Hot,  (County Durham)

Sunday 14th April: Men's Lodge gathering with MensCraft in Norwich

Friday 19th – Sunday 21st April: The ManKind Project Adventure TrainingApplecross, Scotland

Sunday 21st April: Going Beyond The Hero with MensCraft in Norwich

Saturday 20th April: Spirituality and Men, Essence and Expansion, Hove, with the Brahma Kumaris


MAY 2013

Thurs 2nd – Sun 5th May: A Celebration of the Noble Man, Isle of Wight

Friday 10th and Sunday 12th May: MensCraft Nurturing The Sacred Masculine, Norfolk

Saturday 11th May: Spirituality and Men, Self-honesty without self-disempowerment, Hove, with the Brahma Kumaris

Saturday 11th May: MROP men's meeting (Upholland, West Lancashire)

Monday 13th May - Friday 17th May: Eco-building volunteer week at Hazel Hill in Wiltshire

Thursday 16th - Saturday 19th May: Authentic Men Conference (Wales)

Friday 17th – Sunday 19th May: Men Beyond 50, Exploring Elderhood, Hazel Hill Wood, Wiltshire

Sunday 18th May: MensCraft Moot in Norwich 

Monday 20th May - Friday 24th May: Green woodworking and eco-building training week at Hazel Hill in Wiltshire


Thursday 23rd to Sunday 26th May 2013: International Symposium for Men, Frankfurt

Friday 25th May: Men Together inter-generational workshop with Nick Clements (Stroud) 

Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June: 'Crossing the Threshold', Men's Weekend Retreat with David Polak

Help Us Create The Big Man Gathering 2013


Would you like to join us in creating the “Big Man Gathering 2” as part of the Third National Conference for Men and Boys this September?

We’d love your support in building on the success of last year’s event which brought together a mix of men’s groups and men’s work practitioners to create a unique shared experience for around 80 men.

This year we will be holding the event over the weekend of September 28th and 29th in an outdoor setting near Brighton & Hove. You can get involved in just one of the days if you want to or camp overnight and enjoy a great evening around the campfire so you can take part in both days.

If you like would to be involved in this year’s event as participant, a facilitator or a volunteer please get in touch.

More details from glen@glenpoole.com.



Llansor Mill Men's Group (Wales)


Llansor Mill Men's Group (Wales) meets in two different ways, both of which are roughly at 3-month intervals, so there is something going on roughly every six weeks - all of which all men are welcome to attend. 
We meet on a Thursday evening [4th Thursday of the month] from 7.30-9.45. The planned dates for the first half of 2013 are:
Thursday 24 January
Thursday 25 April
Thurday 25 July.
The group also meets for  full-day Saturday, or full weekend events. For these, men can camp or stay in the Bunkhouse and / or Poustinia. The planned  dates for 2013 are:
Friday-Sunday 1-3 February
Saturday 18 May
Saturday 14 September
Saturday 16 November
For more information see the Llansor Mill Men's Group Page

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Men Of Faith And Spirit Conference Planned For 2013

Would like to be part of a pioneering interfaith conference for about men, boys and spirituality?

As part of the Third National Conference For Men And Boys in September 2013 we are planning to include – for the first time – a day dedicated to ‘Men Of Faith And Spirit’.

The organizers are now looking for people to help us create this event which will aim to:
  • Explore how we can get men and boys more involved in faith communities and spiritual practice
  • Consider how faith groups and spiritual practice can help address some of the societal problems men and boys face (and celebrate some of the great work that people are already doing)
  • Connect people from different faith communities and spiritual groups who are interested in or already committed to working with men and boys, so we can learn from each other
The event will be held on either Saturday 28th or Sunday 29th September in or near to Brighton & Hove

Right now we have four questions to ask you about this event and would love to hear back from you as follows:
  • Would you and your group or community like to take part in this event?
  • Do you know of other people, groups, communities who you think we should contact?
  • Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on what you’d like to see happen on this day – talks, workshops, debates, worship etc?
  • Do you have any other questions, observations, ideas etc at this stage?
If the answer to any of these questions is YES and you want to get in touch please send an email or call:

Tricia McLeod on mcleodtricia@gmail.com 07973 468241
 
Glen Poole on glen@glenpoole.com on 07981 334222

Brighton Integral Men's Group

The AllMen Project piloted an Integral Men's Group in Brighton this year and it is now running every fortnight. 

If you are interested in joining a men's groups that uses an Integral framework then read here to find out more.

Weekend Retreat With David Polak

David Polak is hosting a men’s weekend retreat in  Newmarket this May/June (details below)

David trained for five years at the Gestalt Centre in London and achieved a Master of Arts degree in Psychotherapy. He says he has developed a down to earth and professional approach to his work following many years working in different settings, including adult mental health services, adolescent care and a GP's surgery.

David facilitates regular men’s groups from his practice his London and is inviting men to join him on his next Weekend Retreat.

'Crossing the Threshold' - Weekend Retreat for Men!

May 31st to June 2nd 2013

At different times in our lives we find ourselves facing changes.
This weekend retreat is a place to explore and confront what may be preventing you from 'crossing the threshold' from one stage of your life into the next, with the help and support of other men on a similar journey. We will be using a variety of creative methods, including group work, time in nature, music and ritual.

Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Date: - May 31st to June 2nd 2013
Cost: - £225
Venue: - Old Stable House Retreat Centre, Newmarket

Contact: David Polak on 07847 279246 or email davidhpolak@yahoo.co.uk