The 4th NWTA for Black and Brown Men

On 21st-23rd May 2027 the next New Warrior Training Adventure Black and Brown men will be taking place near Sheffield. This is the fourth of theese NWTAs to be organised by Black and Brown men and their allies from the MKP UK & Ireland community. Most participants and staff on these trainings are Black and Brown men. This provides an experience for all involved that is unique in many ways. It allows us as Black and Brown men opportunity to introduce a new way of being men to a new group of Black and Brown men.

The lack of trainings that are specifically for Black or Brown men or men of colour means that we can’t even compare the NWTA for Black and Brown men to other trainings. Although this training uses the same globally respected protocols as a regular New Warrior Training Adventure everything is the same and yet, nothing is the same. For many of us it’s the first time we’ll see a man like us in leadership positions and the brotherhood that is an important part of staffing these trainings.

For those of us who’ve been involved since the beginning it’s been an amazing journey and so much more than we expected. However, each time the challenge has been, how do we attract participants while keeping an element of surprise that is integral to what happens. The answer when we arrived at it was obvious, let’s ask the men who’ve done the training to see what they say. So we did…

From Me to We: The Gift Economy at the Heart of The ManKind Project

"The service aspect of our work is not just an add-on or an optional extra. It's an integral part of what we do. We believe that true healing and transformation cannot happen in isolation; it requires connection, community, and a willingness to give back. Through service, we create a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond ourselves." - Ron Hering (co-founder of MKP)

The ManKind Project (MKP) is a global organisation dedicated to helping men grow, heal and find their purpose. Since our inception in 1985, service and giving have been core pillars of the MKP philosophy, and the concept of the "giveaway" has been central to our approach to personal growth and transformation.

The founders of MKP recognised that there were very few resources available to men struggling, growing or in need of community. They wanted to create a space where men could support each other, share their experiences, and learn new skills for personal growth and healing. In the early years, MKP primarily offered workshops and retreats, including our flagship programme, the New Warrior Training Adventure. This programme was designed to help men break through their limiting beliefs, face their fears, and discover their true potential. But even in those early days, service and giving were never far from their minds.

In the mid-1990s, MKP undertook an approach to service and giving, which became known as the "giveaway." The idea was simple: each man who participated in the New Warrior Training Adventure would be asked to make a contribution towards the weekend. This was a radical model that meant that men were actually paying to help serve other men and ‘pay forward’ the gift that they got from their training. 

The giveaway is a way for men to share something of themselves with the group, give back in a meaningful way, and connect with their own sense of purpose and contribution. Over time, the giveaway became a central part of the MKP community experience and remains so today. Our staff men on the weekend still pay to be there and our ‘social capital’ on each weekend often exceeds 25k.  

Service and giving are powerful tools for personal growth and transformation. When I give of myself, I connect with something larger than myself, and I make up that this is the same for other men.  I tap into a sense of purpose and contribution that is deeply fulfilling and meaningful. And when I give without expecting anything in return, I create a sense of abundance and generosity that can be contagious.

The giveaway is a perfect example of this. When men share something of themselves with the group, they create a sense of connection and community that is hard to replicate in any other way. They also learn to value their own unique gifts and contributions, and to see how those gifts can be used to make a positive impact on the world around them.

But the benefits of service and giving don't just accrue to the individual. They also have a ripple effect that can transform entire communities and even the world. When we give of ourselves, we create a sense of generosity and abundance that can inspire others to do the same. We create a culture of giving that values contribution over competition and generosity over selfishness.

At MKP, we believe that service and giving are essential components of personal growth and transformation. That's why we incorporate the giveaway into all of our programmes and events, and why we encourage all our members to find ways to give back to their communities. Whether it's through a service project, a donation, or simply a kind word, we know that giving is one of the most powerful ways to connect with our own sense of purpose and to make a positive impact on the world around us.

If you're interested in learning more about the ManKind Project and our approach to personal growth and transformation, we encourage you to explore our website or attend one of our events. We believe that every man has the potential to grow, heal, and find his purpose, and we're here to support him on that journey.

Laurence Johns - MKP UK&I

A (Gay) Man in a Circle of Men (A Gateway into the ManKind Project)

I was resistant to signing up for my first ManKind Project weekend back in 2017. “Man” was a problematical word for me. It carried associations of animosity and alienation. Not really knowing what I was in for, I focused on the “-kind” and hoped for the best. 

As a gay man I was used to being in the minority, if not the singularity. Of the discoveries I made on that first weekend with MKP, I learned that men, whatever their sexual orientation, were also capable of feeling isolated and secretly different, each in their own way.

The more time I spend engaged with the Mankind Project, the more I learn about the range of individuality of men, as well as the things we have in common: vulnerability, fear, desire, shame, strength, nobility… gradually that M word is losing its intimidating power over me. 

Within MKP we have a “Rainbow Circle” exclusively for GBTQ men. We meet monthly online and have the chance to check in and share our experiences, as part of our wider interactions with MKP as a whole.

Thanks to this, six years on, I have a very different relationship with the M word. I now understand there to be as many versions of it as there are men, myself included. That said, I also find there to be a common underlying experience of something “Masculine”. It’s multi-faceted, magnificent and badly needed in our world today.

This October (2023) we’re holding the first ‘Gateway’ weekend outside North America for GBTQ+ men. It’s a major milestone for MKP UK & Ireland, and a personal one for me. 

- Aiden H.

To register for our next Rainbow Circle CLICK HERE

For information about our GBTQ+ GateWay NWTA CLICK HERE

June is Pride month

Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBTQ Pride Month, is a month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) culture and community. 

In most countries Pride Month is observed in June as it coincides with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests that many judge began the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in the US and across the world.

In the MKP UK&I community Pride is a month for us to reflect on the struggles of those in our community who identify as GBTQ+ and their contributions at lots of different levels our community.

We’re also very proud of the following resources that we provide for GBTQ+ folks. 

Rainbow Initiated Connection Circle (RICC) – takes place on the third Monday of each month between 7pm and 8:30pm. It’s a space where initiated GBTQ+ men can check-in and share what’s going on for them. 

RICC is a facilitated drop-in space where you can sit with others like you and listen to them and share. We ask RICC attendees to make the following commitments during the session; Confidentiality and that you keep your camera on for the duration of the session. 

Details about RICC are shared on the Rainbow Circle email list and on some of the newsletters. If you’d like further information, please contact the Centre Manager.

Rainbow Open Connection Circle (ROCC) – takes place on the fourth Monday of each month, once again between 7pm and 8:30pm. ROCC is also a space for GBTQ+ people to check-in with each other. It’s a space for GBTQ+ who want an introduction to what it’s like to sit in a circle with other GBTQ+ men. 

Further details of ROCC are available on the regular MKP newsletters or from the Centre Manager.

NWTA for GBTQ+. Unlike the regular NWTAs, this training is specifically for people who identify as GBTQ+. Most initiates and staff are GBTQ+. It’s a good way to connect with others and to be of service.

The next NWTA for GBTQ+ is scheduled for - 9th-11th October 2026, Sheffield, England.

NWTA Register GBTQ+ Gateway — The ManKind Project UK and Ireland

Other events – Members of the Rainbow Circle often organise events for others in the UK&I community or across Europe. 

Events like the Rainbow Warrior Gathering are an opportunity to connect with other GBTQ+ men from many European Centres.

TESTIMONIALS FROM STAFF & PARTICIPANTS

‘I’ve staffed the GBTQ+ Gateway for three years running. The reason I keep coming back is that I’m convinced the weekend changes people’s lives, including my own. Each participant will get something different out of it - there’s no expectation or formula. However, it seems to be the combination of individual and shared experience that seems to provide healing and growth for so many. 

GBTQ+ people didn’t grow up in the same world as heteronormative men or women. We faced challenges and wounding that often wasn't met with understanding or compassion. The Mankind Project has devised a weekend experience where that understanding exists, deeply. To participate in it as a staff member is a unique - i.e. rare and different every time - experience. One of the most valuable of my life.’

Aidan Hawkes

’For me, the GBTQ + Rainbow Gateway weekend meant a very great deal indeed. It was a pivotal, transformational and incredibly powerful experience. The closest thing to genuine magic that I have ever experienced in my life. It allowed me to step deeply into through and beyond many of the things that have encumbered hindered and held me back throughout my life. It was not at all easy, but the reward was well worth it.  The gift of myself, my true self in all of my imperfect glory and power, that I left with has allowed me to begin building the life that I always wanted but never dared accept was actually possible.

It has given me a firm foundation on which to stand, the ability and acceptance to see the gift in every challenge that life brings my way. The resolute strength to do the work each and every day that I need to do to make myself, my community and the world that I live in a better place one small step at a time. Real, genuine and lasting progress that I witness daily as I clearly see empirical evidence of this progress in my life and beyond. Mission, purpose, community all of these things were sorely lacking in my life before I participated in this weekend, now they are the focus of my life. Before I completed this powerful adventure, I lived a life of isolation, fear and loneliness. A disingenuous life blighted by anger guilt and shame. I was stuck unable to process or move on. Living a life of quiet desperation drowning behind a false smile.  Now I have a set of tools that enable me to face my shadows each and every day to work with them, repurpose and transform them, not allow them to break me leaving me crippled and inept. I now live a life that is genuine, that is mine, I have been able to take off the masks that I hid behind, set down the heavy armour which was crushing me and find great strength in my softness and my vulnerability which I previously viewed as weaknesses, the strength to walk forward as my true self.

The Rainbow Gateway weekend  did not “fix” me, it gave me a space to truly reconnect with myself and in doing so, it gave me the courage to finally begin truly living, to become the person I had spent a lifetime hiding from.’

Martin/Martine Jenkins

‘I completed my initiation at the first Gateway GBTQ+ training in Derbyshire in 2024 and have staffed 3 times since then. Staffing has honestly been even more powerful than my initiation, which was already life changing. Something magical has happened since, where the journey of growth that I started 2 years ago has kept developing at each weekend, and the emotional journey of compassion, grief, joy and anger that each training unlocks has been humbling and transformative. What’s more, being a part of a team of GBTQ+ brothers, working together to help others in our community, and seeing them grow in self-love and realisation, has been a privilege and a joy. This is what makes this training so special, because the experience doesn’t just evaporate after an intense weekend initiation, staffing means that it can grow roots and become stronger and more integrated into my life and understanding; this is why I keep coming back.’

Richard Parkin

MKP UK&I Trustee, Royston John's TEDx Talk: Unveiling the Impact of Windrush

We're thrilled to share Royston John's impactful TEDx Talk, a longtime ManKind Project member and trustee of MKP UK&I. In "The Windrush Impact: A Journey of Reflection," Royston bravely unfolds the profound effects of the Windrush migration on both adults and children.

Royston, known for delivering NCBI Equality, Diversity, and Equity workshops, was unexpectedly invited by fellow MKPUK&I man Richard Jones to share his life journey on a TEDx platform. This talk becomes a testament to the diverse experiences within our community, echoing Royston's hope that more men will find the courage to share their stories.

In this captivating talk, Royston takes us through his life's unexpected twists, from Trinidad to Grenada as a child and finally to England. His narrative, both harrowing and honest, reflects on the challenges faced during a period 60 years ago and how the Windrush phenomenon continues to impact third-generation children today.

Royston's extensive professional background as a senior manager and his transition to roles like Business Coach and EDI Specialist add depth to his insights. Having delivered over 700 workshops, Royston's commitment to building a better world is evident in his focus on compassion, connection, and humanity.

This TEDx Talk isn't just a personal narrative; it represents the strength in vulnerability within the ManKind Project. Royston exemplifies the power of storytelling to foster understanding and unity.

Watch Royston John's TEDx Talk here and share it with others. As a member of MKP, trustee for MKP UK&I, and active in the EDI group, Royston contributes significantly to our community's growth.

Let's celebrate Royston's courage and look forward to more opportunities for men to share, connect, and contribute within the ManKind Project UK&I.

The Power of Men's Groups: Discover Connection, Support, and Growth with MKP UK&I

“In union, there is strength.” - Aesop

Men's groups have been a part of human history for centuries, offering a space for men to come together, share experiences, and find support in their life journeys. The power of these gatherings lies in the genuine connections that are formed, the mutual support shared, and the collective growth experienced. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of men's groups in general and why you should consider trying one of our free, online Connection Groups with the ManKind Project UK&I.

The Value of Men's Groups

In a world where men often face societal expectations to be strong, independent, and self-reliant, the idea of joining a men's group might raise questions. However, these groups offer numerous advantages that can significantly enhance personal growth and emotional well-being:

1. Authentic Connections: Men's groups provide a safe and supportive environment where you can be your true self. Authenticity is encouraged, leading to meaningful connections with like-minded men who understand your journey.

2. Emotional Well-Being: Sharing your thoughts and feelings with others can be a powerful way to address emotional challenges, reduce stress, and improve overall mental health. Men's groups offer a space to open up and discuss what's on your mind.

3. Personal Growth: Being part of a group that focuses on self-improvement and self-discovery can lead to profound personal growth. You can gain valuable insights and tools to navigate life's challenges effectively.

4. Brotherhood: Men's groups foster a sense of brotherhood, where you can find both support and inspiration. The bonds formed in these groups often extend beyond the meetings, creating a network of friends and allies.

Why Choose an MKP UK&I Connection Group?

The ManKind Project UK&I offers a unique opportunity for men to experience the benefits of men's groups through our Connection Groups. Here's why you should consider joining us:

1. Inclusivity: Our Connection Groups are open to men from all backgrounds and walks of life. We embrace diversity and create a space where every man can find a sense of belonging.

2. Experienced Volunteers: Our groups are led by experienced volunteers who create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. They guide discussions and ensure that each member has the opportunity to share and be heard.

3. Online Convenience: Our Connection Groups are conducted online, making them accessible and convenient. You can participate from the comfort of your own home, eliminating geographical barriers.

4. A Commitment to Growth: We are committed to helping men grow, connect, and support one another. Our Connection Groups offer a structured yet flexible approach to personal development.

5. Free of Charge: To encourage participation and make this experience accessible to all, our Connection Groups are entirely free.

How to Get Started

Participating in an MKP UK&I Connection Group is easy and accessible. Here's how to get started:

1. Explore Our Groups: Visit our website to explore the available Connection Groups and find one that aligns with your interests and schedule.

2. Register for Free: Simply register for the group of your choice. Our groups are free to join.

3. Join Online: You'll receive instructions on how to join the online meeting. All you need is an internet connection and a device.

4. Participate and Connect: Engage in meaningful discussions, connect with like-minded men, and experience the power of personal growth and support.

Men's groups are a powerful way to connect, grow, and find support in today's fast-paced world. The ManKind Project UK&I offers a unique opportunity to experience the benefits of these groups through our free, online Connection Groups. Whether you're seeking personal growth, authentic connections, or a sense of brotherhood, our Connection Groups can provide the support and camaraderie you're looking for. Join us, and embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and connection.