As the working week for many draws to a close a group is preparing to meet to chew over life before swimming in an icy lake and preparing for the week ahead.
Each Sunday for the past three years Blue Mind Men has met on the shores of Windermere with the aim of discovering cold water swimming as a group and the benefits it has on mental wellbeing.
With a keen interest in using the great outdoors to boost mental health the group was created by publishing editor Jonathan Cowie and cold water swimming coach Gilly McArthur.
Jonathan sais: “With Blue Mind Men we wanted to create a club that was part of the movement to banish the stigma of men talking about their feelings, to improve overall mental health and to help men establish better social connections in the outdoors.
“Theoretically the club is about cold water swimming, but in fact it’s about getting together and having fun. But it does have the express aim of improving mental health.”
Before dipping members introduce themselves and welcome new swimmers to the group.
There’s an opportunity to share how members are feeling, discuss the past week and highlight any news thereby breaking the myth that masculinity means being strong but resolutely silent. The aim is to offer a welcoming environment which adds to a sense of shared experience and community.
Jonathan added: “While men dominate competitive sports, they also dominate suicide statistics and that signifies a crisis in masculinity that needs attention.
”Through cold water and community we can create safe outdoor spaces for men to meet, talk and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. And the ripple effect of that can be transformative for all of us.”
Three years on and the group is thriving. In 2023 Blue Mind Men won the Ways to Wellbeing category of the Head Outside Awards at Kendal Mountain Festival.
Blue Mind Men is an inclusive, social swim group for men – and friends – that meets every Sunday at 9am at Rayrigg Meadow jetties. All are welcome, regardless of gender. (w3w ///giggle.foods.surprised).
