Tough To Talk

Tough To Talk MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY - DESTROYING THE STIGMA AND REDUCING MALE SUICIDE.

18/08/2026

Male Su***de Prevention Doesn’t Start in Mental Health Services

Description:

Some of the people best placed to notice male distress don’t work in mental health services.

They work in homelessness services, addiction support, housing, financial support, charities and community organisations.

They already know the men they support. They know what “normal” looks like. And sometimes they notice the change before anyone hears the words.

That trusted proximity matters.

Tough To Talk works upstream of crisis, helping trusted frontline staff and volunteers recognise behavioural change earlier, start safer conversations and help people connect with appropriate support.

If your organisation supports vulnerable men and you’d like to find out whether you may be eligible for our funded Tough Talker programme, email:

[email protected]

This project is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Behaviour before words. Reach in sooner.

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13/08/2026

Crisis can look sudden. Behavioural drift often isn’t.

A crisis can look sudden from the outside.

But sometimes the change started weeks earlier.

Quieter. Shorter temper. Staying later. Withdrawing. Drinking more. Joking about everything.

None of those things proves someone is suicidal.

That matters.

You do not need proof to notice that someone has moved away from what is normal for them.

We call that behavioural drift.

Notice the change. Get curious. Reach in earlier.

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If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. Samaritans are available free, day or night, on 116 123. Tough To Talk is not a crisis service.

13/08/2026

Fundraising doesn’t have to be complicated

You don’t need to run a marathon or climb a mountain to support a cause you care about.

A walk. A football match. A coffee morning. Something at work.

Community fundraising raises money, but it also does something else: it brings people together and creates conversations.

Do something you care about. Bring some people with you. Help us break the silence.

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Applications are open for funded Tough Talker trainingDoes your charity or community organisation work directly with vul...
04/08/2026

Applications are open for funded Tough Talker training

Does your charity or community organisation work directly with vulnerable adult men?

Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, Tough To Talk will deliver 14 in-person Tough Talk courses over the next 12 months.

We aim to work with 10 to 15 eligible organisations and train approximately 200 new Tough Talkers.

Applications are open to UK-based:

- Registered charities
- Constituted voluntary or community organisations
- Community Interest Companies
- Social enterprises

Successful organisations will receive a complete one-day Tough Talk course combining Su***de First Aid Lite learning with the Tough Talker Programme.

Delegates will learn how to:

- Recognise behavioural signs of distress
- Start earlier, safer conversations
- Understand their role and boundaries
- Connect people with appropriate support
- Respond and escalate safely when greater risk is present
- Contribute to organisational learning through the I to the Power of WE Framework

Delegates completing the course will receive a Tough To Talk certificate and be onboarded into the Tough Talking Community for continued learning and support.

There is no course fee charged by Tough To Talk.

Host organisations provide the venue, equipment, refreshments and accessibility arrangements. They also cover delegate travel and staff or volunteer release time.

The programme particularly aims to support organisations working with men affected by homelessness, addiction, poverty, financial hardship, isolation or social exclusion.

The first delivery window begins in October 2026, with courses scheduled throughout the programme.

Complete the expression-of-interest form:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=U0ITIkWUPE

Applications from Wales are welcome, although delivery can only be confirmed once the required bilingual access arrangements are in place.

Please share this opportunity with an organisation that already has trusted contact with men who may never ask for help themselves.

Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

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𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀Supporting Tough To Talk does not have to begin with a large donation...
01/08/2026

𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀

Supporting Tough To Talk does not have to begin with a large donation.

There are several practical ways you can help us build upstream male su***de prevention in workplaces, charities and communities.

𝟭. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Every contribution helps us train and support more Tough Talkers, strengthen charities working with vulnerable men and develop practical prevention resources.

𝟮. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲

Run, cycle, walk, organise a football match, hold a quiz night or create something entirely your own.

You choose the challenge. We will help you tell the story.

𝟯. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘂𝘀

Your company may be able to:
Sponsor a programme
Fund training for a charity
Choose Tough To Talk as a charity partner
Support us through its CSR or social-value programme

Match money raised by employees

Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is introduce us to the right person.

𝟰. 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀

You receive something useful and help fund our work at the same time. Civilisation occasionally produces an arrangement where everyone wins.

𝟱. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

A post, introduction or conversation can help us reach an employer, funder, charity or community that needs our approach.

Donations, merchandise and book sales are reinvested into supporting non-profit organisations working with vulnerable men.

Our work helps trusted people recognise distress earlier, reach in sooner and create more opportunities for support before crisis develops.

Choose one thing you can do today.

Donate, fundraise, shop, introduce us to your employer or share our work:

https://www.toughtotalk.com/

Planning a fundraising event or exploring company support? Contact:

[email protected]

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Sounds of Support is back for its third year, and this time it is going bigger.Over the past two years, Sounds of Suppor...
30/07/2026

Sounds of Support is back for its third year, and this time it is going bigger.

Over the past two years, Sounds of Support has raised more than £4,000 for Tough To Talk.

This year brings:

a new and larger venue
more live acts
more opportunities to support upstream male su***de prevention
another excellent day of live music in Witney

Sounds of Support: Empowering Change Through Music 2026

Saturday 21 November 2026
From 3pm
Studio Studio Se7en, Witney
18+
Accessible venue

Early-bird tickets are only £10 with no booking fee until 1 October.

Those who joined us at the previous events will already know the standard of the bands. The first act for 2026 will be announced shortly, with plenty more to follow.

Buy your early-bird ticket here:

https://www.toughtotalk.com/event-details/sounds-of-support-empowering-change-through-music-2026

Sounds of Support is organised and promoted by David Ashbourne in partnership with Witney Town FC. Tough To Talk is the beneficiary charity.

Please tag someone who enjoys proper live music and a fundraiser with more ambition than a sad raffle table beside the exit.



Tough To Talk is not a crisis service. Samaritans can be reached free on 116 123. Text SHOUT to 85258. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.

Some people support a charity by donating.Others want to do something that frightens them first.Through our Ultra Events...
26/07/2026

Some people support a charity by donating.

Others want to do something that frightens them first.

Through our Ultra Events fundraising page, supporters can take on:

Ultra White Collar Boxing
Ultra MMA
Ultra Comedy

Participants receive training or coaching before taking on their chosen event and raising money for Tough To Talk.

The challenges may be different, but the purpose is shared.

Every fundraiser helps us:

Train and support more Tough Talkers
Deliver upstream su***de-prevention talks and training
Strengthen charities supporting vulnerable men
Develop practical prevention resources
Help more organisations recognise distress before crisis

You do not need previous experience.

You do not need to think of yourself as an athlete, fighter or comedian.

You need a willingness to start, continue showing up and use your challenge to support something bigger than yourself.

Your next challenge could help us create more opportunities for men to be noticed, supported and connected before crisis.

Explore boxing, MMA and comedy opportunities:

https://www.toughtotalk.com/fundraise-for-mens-mental-health-with-impact-events

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Samaritans: 116 123.
Shout: text SHOUT to 85258.
Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.

Not every fundraiser wants to run a marathon.Some want to step into a boxing ring.Some want to learn MMA.Some would rath...
24/07/2026

Not every fundraiser wants to run a marathon.

Some want to step into a boxing ring.

Some want to learn MMA.

Some would rather face their greatest fear and try to make a room full of strangers laugh.

Through our Ultra Events fundraising page, Tough To Talk supporters can choose a new challenge, receive training or coaching and raise money for upstream male su***de prevention.

The current opportunities include:

• Ultra White Collar Boxing
• Ultra MMA
• Ultra Comedy

Your fundraising can help us:

• Train and support more Tough Talkers
• Deliver upstream su***de prevention talks and training
• Strengthen charities supporting vulnerable men
• Develop practical prevention resources
• Build cultures where more people are noticed before crisis

You do not need previous boxing, MMA or comedy experience.

You need the willingness to start, keep showing up and use your challenge to support something bigger than yourself.

Take on a challenge.

Change more than just yourself.

Explore the events and sign up:

https://www.toughtotalk.com/fundraise-for-mens-mental-health-with-impact-events

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WE’VE BEEN SHORTLISTED. TWICE. 🏆🏆Tough To Talk has been shortlisted for:🏆 Third Sector Awards 2026 – Big Impact Award🏆 C...
15/07/2026

WE’VE BEEN SHORTLISTED. TWICE. 🏆🏆

Tough To Talk has been shortlisted for:

🏆 Third Sector Awards 2026 – Big Impact Award

🏆 Charity Times Awards 2026

The Third Sector shortlist recognises our work:

Preventing Male Su***de Through Early Intervention and Cultural Change.

This belongs to every Tough Talker, partner, volunteer, fundraiser, trustee and supporter helping us reach men before crisis.

We are proud.

We are grateful.

And we are still just getting started.

Fewer men reaching crisis unnoticed. That remains the mission.

***dePrevention

WE’VE BEEN SHORTLISTED. TWICE. 🏆🏆Tough To Talk has been shortlisted for:🏆 Third Sector Awards 2026 – Big Impact Award🏆 C...
15/07/2026

WE’VE BEEN SHORTLISTED. TWICE. 🏆🏆

Tough To Talk has been shortlisted for:

🏆 Third Sector Awards 2026 – Big Impact Award

🏆 Charity Times Awards 2026

The Third Sector shortlist recognises our work:

Preventing Male Su***de Through Early Intervention and Cultural Change.

This belongs to every Tough Talker, partner, volunteer, fundraiser, trustee and supporter helping us reach men before crisis.

We are proud.

We are grateful.

And we are still just getting started.

Fewer men reaching crisis unnoticed. That remains the mission.

***dePrevention CharityAwards

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Nottingham

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