Ian’s Man Made move from isolation to transformation

Ian first heard about the Man Made men’s group from a friend. The group initially met at the Methodist church in Willington. Ian knew the church through is wife, who ran a food bank there. He’d go there every Friday to volunteer. Despite his connection to the church Ian didn’t think a men’s group would be for him. But his friend and his wife both knew it was just what he needed. As Ian puts it, “I was brain banged into it.”

His first visit didn’t go so well. He left feeling unsure about returning but he heard they would be doing whittling, so he thought he’d give it another go. This proved to be a turning point for Ian.

“I enjoyed it that much I bought my own whittling set.” He says and was soon carving loved spoons, knives, forks and bowls. “It’s survival training.” He adds with a huge smile on his face.

Learning new skills 

Ian is very proud of the footstool he’s made. He thought his wife might not like it and it would end up in the garage, but his granddaughter painted it and it’s still being used today. His granddaughter also painted the bird box he made. When he’s describing the things he’s made, you can sense how much he enjoys the process of making. “You can just sit there and do it, become one with whatever you’re making. It’s fantastic.”

Then they started working with copper and Ian instantly took to it. When his wife asked him if he could make a rose holder, it stirred something deeper.

“I like making things and showing them to people and I was so proud of that, it gave me a sense of achievement which I lacked when I first came here.”

New friendships = support and resilience

Ian lives with COPD and has trouble breathing. His arthritis means he suffers with chronic pain. He was also suffering emotionally.

“I locked myself away and didn’t move far from the bedroom. I didn’t even eat downstairs with the family. I was in a bad place. I’d tried to commit suicide, and this place saved my life. It’s kept me alive.”

It isn’t just the creative activities that have helped. The group itself has made a powerful impact on Ian’s well-being. “This group’s made me a better person.” He says then adds, “I’ve got some really good close friends now. I wasn’t a chatty person before but now I am - I’ll talk to anybody. I’m in a different place now. I’m happy.”

Ian describes Man Made as a place with “Plenty of love. We can talk to each other - we can open up. It’s nice seeing them week in week out. Its fantastic.” 

The Man Made group is full of friendly chat, except when they’re using sharp tools, then everyone is focussed on what they’re doing. They all have to concentrate and no words are spoken. There’s other times when they can have a laugh together. As Ian says “Sometimes it’s like a kids playground. It’s a happy place.”

Seeing light in the tunnel

When Ian thinks back to those darker times he’s full of optimism.

“It’s a place I know in myself I’ll never go back to. I can talk to people now.

I still have down days but so does the rest of the world. But I don’t’ feel like I felt back then.”

Ian is full of praise and admiration for Jack Drum Arts and Jack the project manager, who created this space that changed his life.

“I’ve only got myself here because of Jack, Jack made the vision, he put his mind into the place – and asked ‘how can I help someone?’

Continuity and the power of sustained engagement

Ian sees how the group has gone from strength to strength but is fully aware that - “Jack can only do it as long as he’s got the funding for it. I hope he keeps getting the funding, because it’s an absolutely fantastic idea.”

Ian hopes the group will carry on doing what they do and they get the chance to try some new activities. Even when the activities aren’t exactly what he likes, he has a go and then often ends up enjoying it. He knows how far he’s come and how Man Made has completely transformed him.

“Men don’t talk - that’s why it builds up and that’s when you get to where I was.

I used to have a weight on my shoulders but now I’m so chilled. I look forward to this, I say to the wife  – I can’t wait till next Monday.”