Alice Kunjappy attended the conference, and has shared her reflections and highlights:

Men2Men – Time to Talk A Celebration of Courage, Connection and Collective Action

On 29th November 2025 Coley Park Community Centre became a beacon of hope and healing. The International Men’s Day 2025 conference hosted by Reading Men2 Men under the umbrella of the Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality ACRE funded by Reading Borough Council, was more than a gathering – it was a declaration: Men’s health matters.

Community matters. Conversation matters.

A Full spectrum of Health Conversations.

The event brought together health professionals, community leaders and residents to explore the full spectrum of men’s health and wellbeing:

  • Mental Health & Suicide Prevention:
  • Tackling stigma and isolation through open dialogue and peer support.
  • Prostate Cancer & PSA screening: Celebrating Royal Berkshire Hospital’s commissioning of PSA testing while acknowledging the need for more inclusive screening policies for Black men and those with family history.
  • Diabetes Awareness: Empowering men with knowledge about prevention, management, and life changes.
  • Andropause: Opening up conversations around hormonal changes, emotional wellbeing and aging with dignity.
  • Advance Care Planning: Encouraging men to take control of their future health decisions with clarity and compassion.
  • NHS App: Promoting digital access to health records, appointments, and screening reminders – bridging the gap between services and self management.
  • Free Health Checks: On the day screenings offered a tangible step toward proactive offered a tangible step toward proactive care and early intervention.

Collaboration that drives change:

This conference exemplified the power of integration. Statutory bodies like the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, NHS Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, Diabetes UK, Reading Borough Council and grassroots organisations, stood side by side not just delivering services, but listening, learning and co-creating solutions.

It echoed the NHS Long Term Plan’s three strategic shifts:

  1. Personalised Care: Conversations around mental, cancer and andropause emphasised the need for tailored support.
  2. Community Based Support: The event itself was a model of local engagement bringing care into the heart of the community.
  3. Digital Empowerment: The NHS app was spotlighted as a tool for autonomy and access.

Closing the Gaps, Together.

Health inequalities won’t be solved by policy alone. They require community mobilisation, cultural understanding, and relational advocacy . The Men2Men group is leading that change, creating safe spaces for men to speak, seek help and support one another.

A reminder that when communities come together, when statutory services listen, and when conservations are brave and inclusive, change is not only possible, it’s inevitable. #CommunityChampions #Men2Men #ACRE #RBC #RIB