RISE supports International Men’s Day

Nelson men are invited to a special free event mark featuring workshops, networking and talks on topics concerning men.

The third International Men’s Day is being held at Victory Community Centre on Saturday November 16. The theme of this year’s day is Show Yourself.

RISE Clinician Victor Macgill and Hardy Bachert are helping organising the event which is run by Nelson/Tasman Men’s Groups.

RISE is proud to support the day and men’s groups run in Nelson, Golden Bay, the West Coast and Kaikōura.

Victor says the event’s theme is a bit tongue in cheek and a promotional poster shows the organisers naked behind a strategically placed banner. But it is also a serious call encouraging men to come along and be their real selves.

“Be proud to stand up and be who you are.”

Victor says there is a range of speakers and workshops organised for the event.

He will be talking about anger and family violence and RISE’s Aaron Agnew will discuss young dads’ issues. Two ex-gang members will share their journey of change to living a violence free life. Other topics include grief, sexual abuse, meditation.

There are also lighter workshops on breathing, yoga, dance, drumming.

There are also demonstrations on how men’s groups work including a themed group for fathers. They hope to set up a dad’s group following the day.

“It’s good for men to see a men’s space where we can talk in a men’s way, because men communicate in a totally different way,” Victor says.

“It’s good to be in that space and talk about things we wouldn’t in other places, and recognise there’s support out there for men going through things.”

Hardy says the day is open to all men and it is a chance to talk about a range of topics that concern men.

He says the day is relaxed and men can just turn up and have a coffee if that is what they feel like. However, there are a range of workshops from light-hearted to serious they might want to check out.

“There’s no pressure on anyone. We want to create an atmosphere where it is easy to communicate.”

Victor says four men’s groups have been set up following previous International Men’s Days and they hope to set up more following this year’s event.

Hardy Bachert and RISE’s Victor Macgill are organising the third International Men’s Day at Victory Community Centre on Saturday November 16.

There are seven men’s groups in Nelson and other chapters in Motueka, Reefton, Golden Bay and Kaikōura. Victor says one of the Nelson groups has been around for 30 years, another for more than 10 years, while others are relatively new. Victor says men’s groups promote positive forms of masculinity and are a safe place for men to take care of themselves and the other members.

Men’s groups met regularly and are a small group of men who share the challenges and success in their lives while promoting positive forms of masculinity.

For more information visit mensgroup.nz/groups/nelson-tasman or check out their Facebook page facebook.com/mensgroupsnelson. For a programme on International Men’s Day click here: mensgroup.nz/event/international-mens-day-nelson

International Men’s Open Day is at the Victory Community Centre, Nelson on November 16 from 12 – 6pm. International Men’s Day is marked on November 19.

November is also the month that White Ribbon Day is held. White Ribbon Day is an international awareness day drawing attention to violence against women is held on November 25. This year’s White Ribbon theme is: It Starts with Men.