Grassroots Community Wellbeing
Project Sandgrounder
Free by-appointment counselling at The Salvation Army in Southport. No membership. No cost. No waiting list. A grassroots initiative built on goodwill, donated time, and a simple belief: men in this town deserve somewhere to go.
How it started
A simple observation
Most men who need support never ask. Not because they don’t want help, but because the barriers are too high: cost, time, embarrassment, not knowing where to start. A private counselling practice solves it for some. But what about the rest?
In 2024, Project Sandgrounder began as an experiment: can a qualified counsellor, partnered with a community organisation, offer something free, straightforward, and good? The answer has been yes. Every Monday at The Salvation Army in Southport, men walk through the door with one conversation to think things through.
Free
No cost. No referral needed. No waiting list.
Straightforward
At least six 50-minute sessions.
Grassroots
Funded by donated time and partnership. Designed to grow sustainably.
What’s active now
Active Programmes
Project Sandgrounder is an umbrella framework designed to grow. Below are programmes currently running. Future initiatives (peer support circles, workshops, peer mentoring) will be added here as they become active.
Programme 1
Free Counselling
By-appointment counselling sessions at The Salvation Army, Southport. 50 minutes, no cost, every Monday.
When & Where
Every Monday, 10:00–14:00 (excluding bank holidays)
The Salvation Army, Southport
How to Book
Email info@mettletherapy.co.uk with your name and preferred time. Sessions are strictly by appointment, first-come basis.
What to Expect
One 50-minute conversation with a qualified counsellor. Talk about what is going on for you, at your own pace.
Sustaining this
What Project Sandgrounder needs
This service runs on goodwill, donated time, and partnership. To remain sustainable and grow, it needs support in four ways.
Evidence
Commissioners and funders need to see documented local demand before they can act. Expressions of support are that evidence.
Advocates
People who believe in this and will say so — to their employer, their GP surgery, their council representative. Word of mouth is how grassroots services survive.
Sponsorship
Local businesses and organisations who want to put their name behind something that genuinely helps men in Southport. Any amount. No minimum.
Donations
Individuals who want to contribute directly — £5, £10, whatever. It goes to covering costs, venue hire, and expanding reach.
Interested in sponsoring, partnering, or exploring how you can support this initiative?
Get in touch →Sign the expression of support
Document local demand
Your name, email, and postcode go directly towards evidencing local demand for this service to commissioners and funders. It takes 30 seconds, costs nothing, and is one of the most powerful ways to support this initiative growing.
Not a newsletter signup. Not a donation request. Simply: I believe this service matters.
Questions
Frequently asked
Is it really free?▼
Yes. Free counselling, every Monday at The Salvation Army, Southport. 50 minutes, no referral needed, no fees.
How is it different from Mettle Therapy?▼
Mettle Therapy is a private practice offering 1:1 integrative counselling from £50 per session. Project Sandgrounder is a separate grassroots community initiative offering free by-appointment counselling. Both are led by the same counsellor, but serve different purposes.
Who can access it?▼
Anyone in Southport who might not otherwise access support. Especially for people facing difficult circumstances, isolation, or barriers to affording private counselling.
How do I book?▼
Email info@mettletherapy.co.uk with your name and preferred Monday time. Sessions are by appointment only, strictly first-come basis.
What if I need help right now?▼
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent emotional support: Samaritans 116 123 (24 hrs), SHOUT 85258 (text crisis support, 24 hrs), or your nearest Accident & Emergency department.
What is an expression of support?▼
Documentation of local demand (your name, email, postcode) sent to commissioners and funders to evidence that people believe this service deserves to grow. It is not a newsletter signup or donation request.
In crisis?
If you are having thoughts of suicide or in immediate danger, please reach out to one of these services right now.
Emergency
999
Samaritans
116 123
SHOUT (Text)
85258
A&E
Your nearest hospital