Connections: our new men's programme
Life’s not easy! Men grapple with the many issues that life throws at them and we generally tend to keep things to ourselves. “Real men don’t cry.” “Real men just get on with it.” However, it does not need to be that way, and there is great benefit in talking and being active.
Connections is our programme of activities that's designed with men in mind – providing mental and physical support to meet your specific needs and help transform your life. Below are details about all the activities on offer.
Connections is our programme of activities that's designed with men in mind – providing mental and physical support to meet your specific needs and help transform your life. Below are details about all the activities on offer.
If you would like to find out more about Connections and/or sign up to take part in any of the activities, please contact Iain Manson at iain.manson@opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk.

Connections Zoom meet-ups
Twice a month on a Thursday from 8pm
These are a safe and supportive environment where you'll join other men to discuss and deal with a range of issues – trusting each other and being open to sharing.
They'll take place via Zoom, moving to face to face when restrictions allow. The first session, Setting your purpose and focused career planning, is on Thursday 4 March.
The programme will be developed to meet your needs as we go along, but to kick things off, we've put together a series of facilitated discussions with some expert input.
Twice a month on a Thursday from 8pm
These are a safe and supportive environment where you'll join other men to discuss and deal with a range of issues – trusting each other and being open to sharing.
They'll take place via Zoom, moving to face to face when restrictions allow. The first session, Setting your purpose and focused career planning, is on Thursday 4 March.
The programme will be developed to meet your needs as we go along, but to kick things off, we've put together a series of facilitated discussions with some expert input.

Connections men’s yoga
Mondays, 8pm-9pm
Yoga is a wonderful physical and mental discipline that can help your overall wellbeing.
We're working with a highly experienced yoga teacher, Sarah Robinson from Essential Beauty, who's been running a men’s yoga class for a number of years. Starting on Monday 8 March, the classes will be on Zoom, moving to face to face when we're allowed.
Mondays, 8pm-9pm
Yoga is a wonderful physical and mental discipline that can help your overall wellbeing.
We're working with a highly experienced yoga teacher, Sarah Robinson from Essential Beauty, who's been running a men’s yoga class for a number of years. Starting on Monday 8 March, the classes will be on Zoom, moving to face to face when we're allowed.

Running classes
Physical activity can really help with our mental health. There are not many things we’re allowed to do in lockdown, but running is one of them!
We're working with local expert partner, Jog On, which was set up by Berkhamsted running coaches Erica Carter and Heather Harris. Jog On is a popular, inclusive, non-competitive running group. The emphasis is as much about making new friends and enjoying the fresh air as it is about the running challenges.
Physical activity can really help with our mental health. There are not many things we’re allowed to do in lockdown, but running is one of them!
We're working with local expert partner, Jog On, which was set up by Berkhamsted running coaches Erica Carter and Heather Harris. Jog On is a popular, inclusive, non-competitive running group. The emphasis is as much about making new friends and enjoying the fresh air as it is about the running challenges.

The Open Door Garden Team
Gardening can be so therapeutic and really make a difference in our lives. We have a beautiful garden space at Open Door premises, which we're planning to redevelop so that it can be of even more use to the community.
We need help to get this work underway, so if you're a keen gardener, have DIY or garden SOS skills, or just enjoy a potter, we'd love you to volunteer!
To join our Garden Team, whether you're a man or woman, please contact our volunteer manager Mary-Jane Martin at maryjane.martin@opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk.
Gardening can be so therapeutic and really make a difference in our lives. We have a beautiful garden space at Open Door premises, which we're planning to redevelop so that it can be of even more use to the community.
We need help to get this work underway, so if you're a keen gardener, have DIY or garden SOS skills, or just enjoy a potter, we'd love you to volunteer!
To join our Garden Team, whether you're a man or woman, please contact our volunteer manager Mary-Jane Martin at maryjane.martin@opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk.

The Open Door Repair Café
We're setting up a Repair Café at Open Door, which we hope will be up and running when Covid restrictions allow. We think they're a brilliant idea, not least because they reduce waste and CO2, as well as bringing the community together to share skills and help each other out.
And that's where you come in! Do you have a talent for fixing electrical, electronic or mechanical items, garden tools, bicycles, textiles, jewellery or clothing? If so and you'd like to help at our monthly repair sessions, we'd love to hear from you.
For more information and a friendly chat, please email Richard at berkorepaircafe@gmail.com. Together we can help the environment and our community.
We're setting up a Repair Café at Open Door, which we hope will be up and running when Covid restrictions allow. We think they're a brilliant idea, not least because they reduce waste and CO2, as well as bringing the community together to share skills and help each other out.
And that's where you come in! Do you have a talent for fixing electrical, electronic or mechanical items, garden tools, bicycles, textiles, jewellery or clothing? If so and you'd like to help at our monthly repair sessions, we'd love to hear from you.
For more information and a friendly chat, please email Richard at berkorepaircafe@gmail.com. Together we can help the environment and our community.