Meet the Mancunian-8.7-Mark Sproston transcript

Intro

Welcome to Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester. A warm Mancunian welcome from your host, Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. Thank you for joining me today.

Every Tuesday, I bring you the stories of Manchester's unsung heroes. The individuals who help to create positive change in our community. My aim is to inspire you, dear listener, to follow your own passions, whether through volunteering or through working in the social impact sector. I'm also keen to spotlight good causes and create more awareness and support for them.

Whether you're tuning in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or on my website, meetthemancunian.co.uk, get ready for a season filled with inspiring tales of social impact within our beloved city.

Welcome to the seventh episode of Season Eight of the Meet the Mancunian podcast; social impact stories from Manchester.

Passionate about mental health and fitness in the community, we hear from Mark Sproston, Founder, Project 23, in this episode.

In Mark's own words.

[00:01:14] Mark Sproston: Project 23 is an award winning, self funding mental health group. I founded the group, obviously, because I wanted to try and stop suicide. And that's impossible. But, I didn't realise at the time how big of a problem it was. It's horrendous, why somebody wants to do that.

Introduction to the Podcast

[00:01:34] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you so much, Mark, for joining me today.

[00:01:37] Mark Sproston: What a fantastic way for yourself to get to know people around Manchester. What was the reason for getting into a podcast?

[00:01:44] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: It's not a business, it's actually a passion project. So I got into this for two reasons. One, because I'm passionate about social impact and I wanted to help other people follow their own passions and dreams by hearing about, inspiring guests’ stories, their challenges they've overcome, and the lessons they've learned.

Discovering Manchester and its Culture

[00:02:05] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: The second reason is as a new Mancunian, I wanted to get to know Manchester better, and Manchester's culture, and proud history, and ethos. And it's been a wonderful journey because I've got to learn so much more that you just can't read or hear about as a new person, but through the voice of people who've been here for a long time. I'm getting really interesting perspectives.

[00:02:28] Mark Sproston: I think you couldn't have picked a better city. Mancunians are fantastic people. And we do look after our own.

And that's what Project 23 is about. We do try seriously to look after our own. The only other city I would say is even close is Liverpool. They like to look after their own as well.

I'm a very proud Mancunian and a very proud Wythenshawe boy.

[00:02:51] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Absolutely.

[00:02:52] Mark Sproston: For people that don't know, it's an area in Wythenshawe and it used to be the biggest council estate in Europe until I think they built one in Milton Keynes, which has taken that mantle. But Wythenshawe's tight, it's nice, it keeps its friends tight and just like Manchester.

[00:03:11] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Absolutely. I also really enjoy Wythenshawe. The Garden City is how I think of it. So many lovely parks and green areas.

Mark's Journey into Mental Health Advocacy

[00:03:21] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Tell us first about how you found your passion for mental health. When did that start?

[00:03:26] Mark Sproston: When I look back, now I've done quite a lot of interviews, I didn't really realise. I've always been a person that's liked to help the community. I was a football coach for under 10s, under 11s, under 12s. Then I was helping out at the cricket club. I can't play cricket to save my life, but I helped out.

We got sponsored and we managed to get a bowling machine, which was very expensive. This is just going back in years. And then boxing. I've always loved me boxing.

But it was so funny because, some of the children that I had at under 9s, under 10s and under 11s, they're now men. They're like in the late 30s now, and they still call me gaffer, and it's just a lovely term. Neil Chappell, especially. Neil's had many fights under me and just doesn't lose. It's just amazing.

But why did I get into mental health? I obviously had a caring side which maybe I didn't even realise to be quite honest. I just did it because I loved it. But, the unfortunate thing is that my brother committed suicide. My baby brother John Paul. I'll never forget the morning we got the call. It was quite funny, in a way. Because I heard my phone go off as a text and it said, your Johnny's dead. And I thought it was, because I knew who texted me, it was the father of his girlfriend, but he's deaf and dumb, Darren.

And I thought he'd had a row, and he was like, going he's dead, I'm going to get him, he's done something wrong. So at first I thought, oh, I'll deal with it later. And I don't know, something was just pecking me, I phoned him. And it was his daughter that answered the phone. And horrendous time. It was something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

I'll tell you what I did when I found out and I think this needs to be mentioned because I don't like hiding anything. And I don't hide anything, there's no reason to. You've got to be honest when you're talking about mental health.

I locked myself away for 12 months taking cocaine and drinking alcohol, something that just wasn't me. And then thankfully something happened. And I'm saying that because it's the truth, and if I don't speak the truth, why are people going to speak the truth to me? I want people to know what I've been through as well. I like to be open, because if I'm not going to be open, how are people going to come and be open to me?

[00:05:51] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: First of all, really sorry to hear you lost your baby brother, and under such circumstances, and obviously your mental health and many other things that you had to deal with during that time.

The Birth of Project 23

I think you were just touching on how you got over it by starting to get involved with Project 23. Tell us what Project 23 is and what it does.

[00:06:14] Mark Sproston: Project 23 is an award winning, self-funding mental health group. I founded the group, obviously, because I wanted to try and stop suicide. And that's impossible. But I didn't realise at the time how big of a problem it was. It's horrendous, why somebody wants to do that.

It beggars belief. But, unfortunately, there's not enough. There's not enough support out there. We're going through this thing now with with Prime Minister Sunak they pulled the white paper on mental health two weeks before the King's speech. And the white paper was to basically increase the funding in the mental health sector.

It could help more people, and they pulled the paper, and this is the third time they've done it. And, so in one way, they're saying we care about mental health, but in another way, they're not prepared to put the money where the mouth is. And then all they've done now is that you'll see on the newspapers and then on the news, they're just terrorizing the disabled.

And when I say the disabled, it can be anyone from any walk of life that has to claim a disabled benefit. And it's frustrating to me because I am medically retired. I've got 38 years of national insurance paid and I'm only 56, so I've worked damn hard to get that. The way that the government putting all this information out, the amount of people that are contacting me, but they're suicidal.

And this isn't me just saying it, trying to score brownie points. These people are suicidal. And what it is that they're scared. They're getting a letter saying that we're going to do a review or we're going to do, or a first time claimer. They're frightened to death and it's wrong.

It's wrong on so many levels. Because the white paper got pulled, I'm telling you now, you mark my words on this, there'll be more suicides. Suicides will go through the roof. The cost of living, the cost of living covers everything, in regards of the price of electric, the gas, the food.

People can't afford to live. And they're looking at taking benefits off people. What's gone wrong with the world? It's absolutely diabolical. But what will they do? We'll have a percentage on suicide, okay? So in six months time, the suicide rate, in my opinion, would have at least gone up by a third.

What do they do then? Say, oh, I'm sorry. Why don't they just have the mechanisms in place. It took somebody like me to spend my life savings on building the gymnasium. A beautiful gymnasium. It's in the security of my house, my garden. So it's a safe area, but it's getting used to its maximum, which is brilliant. But there's always, places, there's always time to put, to get people a slot. So don't think, or can't contact him, because you can.

So it's taking people like me. The community, and we've got some great people, and they're great people living with us. And, what you've got to remember, these people are volunteers, and they're willing to help, and they're willing to be part of Project 23. I have to give a big shout out to my admin team. Project 23, that's how it all started, with the suicide of John Paul.

[00:09:31] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Tell us a little more about what Project 23 offers.

[00:09:33] Mark Sproston: We do what needs to be done. We don't back off. We're there. When people come, okay, or when people contact us, it's very difficult for them to open up. So just put yourself in them shoes, okay?

I said I was going to touch on what happened to me when I was a child. I was sexually abused, told my wife when my son was still inside her stomach, my first son, so you're talking 36 years ago. I was dead proud that I told her, because I'd never told anyone else apart from one of my other siblings.

When I come on to Project 23, on about being open and being honest. Because if somebody comes to us, if you're not going to tell the truth. And if you're not going to be open, which I totally get. It's very difficult at first, we can't help you to the best of our ability.

So when I said about the drunken mother, the sexual abuse, homelessness, being 14 the floodgates absolutely opened massively, men and women, especially regarding the sexual abuse, and everyone was like, Mark how can you say it publicly?

And I'm like, because I didn't do anything wrong. And you have not done anything wrong. And it was the best thing I've ever done, you can see me smiling. It's because, I think, because I had the boxing thing I've always had a good what do you call it?

People have always looked up to me of people always looking up to me. And I don't know why, but maybe because I'm just me. I've always enjoyed helping people. I've always enjoyed the football club, the boxing.

Mike's passed and how the hell have you done it? You're not embarrassed? And I'm like, no, I've not done anything wrong. So that is now so many people on this footing of, it's okay to admit it, he's right. And we've not done nothing wrong. And I know for a fact that there's been at least 10 charges from the police to people since I released my statement. And every 10 has been found guilty. So I'm ecstatic.

So what we do, we help you well, but the first thing is you're comfortable on what we'll do, we'll assess you, okay? We're very caring, we listen, and we learn. We have the strictest confidentiality policy ever in the world. Some people don't join the group as carers and helpers, because it's too strict. Because I put in the rules that if they ever speak out of tune, I will name and shame them, and I'll do everything in my power to prosecute them.

And I've had a couple of people that have said, oh, I'm not signing that. And I'm like you're not in the right job. So we try and guide people to the best possible place. That's what Project 23 is about. But one thing we do, and we do good, we don't leave the side. We're gonna be right there with them, step by step.

So what's the point of Project 23 if you're not doing it yourself? Because there's so many umbrellas. have to guide people to the correct place or you're not doing your job right. What's the point in having us? We can't be professionals in every single aspect.

So PTSD, complex PTSD. Two massively different illnesses. When I first got told I had Complex PTSD, I went mad at the doctor, saying, I've never seen my friend get shot, I've never seen the bomb go off, and, because that's all I knew about PTSD and Complex PTSD. No, it's a lot more than that. It's about historical abuse. And that's why I suffer from it, so thankfully I was guided into the right place by my fantastic doctors at Brooklyn's Medical Practice.

So I now take that on and I guide people into the right places and I go and sit with them. Sometimes I'll attend the meetings with them, or I'll just sit outside and so do my admin staff and we're just there as a massive safety netting with each other. Anyone comes to me I've got their back, and my group's got their back, and that's the end of it.

I'm telling you now, nobody is left vulnerable in my group, because we, that's not us. We're there, we'll do everything in our powers to get you the right help and get you to the right places.

[00:13:54] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you so much, Mark, for sharing that journey. I love this philosophy of you're there to guide them and support them as they go through their own journey and, that safety net that you're providing.

Challenges and Triumphs of Project 23

[00:14:07] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: What challenges have you faced and overcome? You talked a lot about some of the personal challenges of going through PTSD and struggling with mental health after your your brother's suicide.

[00:14:20] Mark Sproston: It's a bit weird, really, because the sexual abuse, I hid it that well, I didn't tell anyone until obviously I told Andrea many years ago. But then we kept it private, and I didn't tell my children until they were over the age of 18. And my oldest son, obviously, we had to make sure that he didn't tell the youngest son, because the youngest son was still too young. And it would just work fine, but , I dealt with it all right, and maybe that's why I am the person that I am, because I can talk about it.

I didn't ask for it, and I'm big and strong and daft, if that's what you might call me. But look, at the end of the day people can judge you how they want, but nobody will, and this in the nicest possible way, nobody's going to sit in front of me and say anything derogatory about it, because what have I done wrong. And I think things happen for a reason, I really do, and I'll never find a reason why that happened.

I can't ever get that in my head. But, out of that has come Project 23. Out of a horrific, terrible incident, and he's got his two boys and that, it's heartbreaking. And I do my best to try and look after them the best I can. But they live in Wales, we live in Manchester.

There's something good that's come from it. And the something good is that people that, you don't know, we might have saved loads of lives by announcing about the sexual abuse. Somebody might have been at the end of the tether, which a lot of people do tell me they were. And they just couldn't ever decipher it.

Like, why has this happened to me? Why was I the one? Why was I the victim? And a lot of people were at the end of the tether, in regards of the easiest way out is just jumping off a bridge. And you just think whoa no, look at me, I'm happy and bubbly, what happened to me, so what, let's all get together and have a party. No one's gonna look down the nose at you when it comes to Project 23, and I think that's one of the good ethoses of Project 23, it's we're all together, it doesn't matter what you've gone through, we're all together because we're all there for the reason of we need help. And we're on this side, we're here because we're going to get you right.

[00:16:27] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thanks, Mark. If you want to mention any challenges after setting up Project 23 you've had to overcome, lessons from what you, how you maneuver there. I'm thinking about not you personally, but, the project itself. Are there things you had to learn or do differently?

[00:16:45] Mark Sproston: There's a guy called Andrew Parkinson and he won't mind naming him because he's one of the main admin staff on the group. He started calling me the Lampapist. I was like what the hell does that mean? I thought it was like a pedophile or so, I was laughing with him and he is no, it means, 'cause what you do, you keep giving money away and all this.

And I do and I love it. And I don't no bones about it. At the end of the day, I do my best to try and the only thing that is that the phone was dried up and it was never gonna last forever. Because sometimes you may appear, this cost of living now, I always just wish I could fix everyone's problems and I can't, and that gets me frustrated and you might be thinking, that's a nationwide thing, it's a bit daft that you're bringing that up. No, it's not a bit daft that I'm bringing that up, because I tried everything in my powers to fix that I realise that it's impossible, I can't pay everybody's bills but I don't, not for one second do I think, why did I do that?

Why? I spent a lot of money and, but I'm very proud of it and I'd do it again. But any other things I can honestly say to you, you said to me if you, basically, if you hit any stumbling blocks everything's been cool.

But around the Wythenshawe area, and we keep saying the Wythenshawe area, we're nationwide, I've got people in Scotland, I've got people in Exeter, I've got people in London, I've got people in Wales. So we are nationwide, it's just that sometimes when you say you're nationwide, it takes that personal touch away. But we're mainly Wythenshawe and we're very proud of it.

But we're doing something that, that needed to be done. And there wasn't anything on this scale. And I was fortunate in a way where when I really hit rock bottom, It was my cousin, Daniel Murray. He comes to my house and what are you doing? Get out of this bedroom, for God's sake. And I'm like, just effing leave me alone. Anyway, he took me to the champs camp in Moss Eye at the Phil Martin Centre.

Phil Martin was a fantastic guy. Phil died young. But I went there and I was training hard. And I realised that the endorphins in your brain, when you're training, and I was training alongside the professionals.

You can't mess about there, because they'll just ask you to leave. And I was there for five years and was training five days a week. So I, this is how my gym was born. I knew every time I went for a session, I was on top of the moon. And, I say to people, When the endorphins are released in your brain, there is no better drug in the world.

You can't buy a better drug, because it's fantastic. It gives you the energy, it gives you the switched-on ness of being on the ball, it just makes you want to be around people. It makes you want to be alive. And that's what's wrong with a lot of people that suffer with mental health. They don't want to be alive.

They don't want to be here. And what Project 23 shows them, that there's another side to everything. And they see my story, they see so many other people's stories. And it's brilliant, because I have, and I'm not just picking on women here but you get men and they like coming because they have boxing bags on because it's, boxing was my game but I do have everything else, a running machine, an oil machine, bikes everything that you can think of.

And when the women come and they've not been to the gym before and they're like, you're pushing me here mate, you're bringing, making me come to the gym and I'm like laughing me and I think to myself, I can't wait till you get home. So they do the first session, and I say to Andrea I reckon by nine o'clock she'll ring.

And I very rarely get it wrong. And what they do, they go home, and they get a shower. That endorphin hits. And they can't not phone me because they just don't know what to do with their headsets switched on and they're not happy. It's, honestly, I mean I don't get it right every time, sometimes they might phone me the following day, but I do laugh when I see the name come up on the phone and I say, look, she's phoning and I answer it and they go, Mark, I feel great, I feel fantastic, how did you know this? And I'm like, just experience, just years of experience. Not necessarily in the mental health world.

[00:20:50] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: You're telling us about endorphins and that brings us very well to the impact you've made. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?

[00:20:58] Mark Sproston: Endorphins is an actual balanced chemical in your brain, and basically it's released when you keep fit. So basically, the endorphins are released, it's a chemical in your brain that's released, and You can't get a better chemical.

It's absolutely fantastic. It just makes you be alive. It just makes you feel great. And this is what I try and push on, on, on the group. We have a gymnasium there. And we're not all about the gymnasium. A lot of it is just one to one meetings, and we do it and we do it well.

We're just good at what we do, and everything's free of charge as well.

Commitment to Free Services

[00:21:34] Mark Sproston: I want to stipulate that. We don't charge anything to anybody and we never would do. As long as I'm alive, it'll never, it'll always be free. But The gymnasium is a big part of helping people, but you don't have to join the gymnasium, it's not a must.

The Impact of the Gymnasium

[00:21:49] Mark Sproston: Nine times out of ten, and to be honest, I think it's ten times out of ten, when people are training in the gymnasium and they get home and they have to shower, they always phone, they're like, I don't understand how I feel, it's good. And I'm like, it's just amazing, this is how, this is what it's about. And them stories are good really, because people that are really not into the gymnasium. They listen to another group, and I've got stories out there, and it makes people think, you know what, I'm going to try it.

And like I say, nobody has to try the gymnasium, don't worry about that. Everything is about helping you whichever way you guys want to go. We'll dangle the carrot, but you don't have to buy it. We're here for whichever way you want to do it. And it's been very successful up to now, so let's hope there's another three years left of us.

[00:22:39] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you so much for sharing that, Mark, and really good impact that you're making.

Addressing Myths and Misconceptions

[00:22:43] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Is there a myth you'd like to bust? Is there something that people may assume about mental health or about Project 23 that you'd like to clarify?

[00:22:53] Mark Sproston: To be honest, I don't think there is one, and I know it makes me sound like I'm a big headed so and but there's no common myth in regards. What the myth is that we're all people. And I think with the amount of stories that people, it is a private group.

And we have to do that because a lot of people won't join it otherwise. But, word of mouth, in Wythenshawe, somebody will know somebody that knows somebody, if you understand. And when I first started the group, I didn't think that we'd get anywhere near the amount of people that we were. We've had over the years because people come and go.

I'll say that no, a lot of people do go to be quite honest. A lot of people just stay and think it's like a bit of a safety net knowing that it's there and if you get down a little bit, they can just switch on and listen to a few people having a chat, because we do have a chat for them as well.

But there's no misconceptions in regards of we just do what it says on the tin. We just help people, and we'll guide you in the right way. We'll show you which way we think you can go, and no one's ever complained.

Whatever we've done has always seemed to be right. And don't take that as me being a big head. We don't gain financially, we're not doing it for financial gain, we're doing it because we care. And I think when people realise that you do it because you care, then they'll open up to you a little bit more, because I know so many things.

I will never ever dream in any walk of life of speaking about anybody because that would just be vile. That'd be disgusting, and it'll never happen in Project 23. Don't be scared of coming along because everything is totally private and confidential, and all we're trying to do is help.

If it's not for you, just say thanks, but no thanks. But we've never had that. I can honestly say I've never known it. I don't know if anyone, any of the other admins have had that. I've never. People are just so thankful and so grateful that there's somewhere that, because you see, we're away from the benefit structure where they can sell us anything.

A lot of people, and I know this, that when you're speaking to somebody that's from a government body regarding if it's medical, anything, mental health, I don't think they open up to you good because you don't know who gets to see that information. But with me, nobody gets to see it because it's all in here.

Don't ever write anything down, it's all in there, and that's what you've got to be good at, and you've got to be clever. But, it just seems to be doing what it says on the tin, and it's good.

To be honest, I don't go out that often, but when I do, and then if I see, I'll always get someone shouting, And I look, and I think to myself, It's four months ago, that person. She'd not been out for five years, or he'd not been out for five years, and now they're screaming across the road, letting the world see them waving. And I think, we've done something alright there, it's really good.

[00:25:41] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: It's a wonderful safe space that you're creating for people.

[00:25:44] Mark Sproston: That is it, it is a safe place. It could really be described as that, as a safe place, to come.

[00:25:51] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Definitely.

Advice for Starting a Community Movement

[00:25:52] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: What advice would you have for people looking to start a similar movement in their local community?

[00:25:59] Mark Sproston: Be committed. You can't go into this half-heartedly. There's been times where I've been absolutely shattered. But that phone rings and somebody's in a bad way, I'll get in my car and I'll go out. And, it's all well and good. People say to me, Mark, you look tired, you're doing too much.

And, I do have my own mental health issues, but just seem to get this massive helping hand when I'm helping somebody. But you can't switch your phone off at 8 o'clock at night, you can't switch your phone off at 10, it's got to be on constantly. Because I would hate to think that once I switch that phone off.

And big corporations have told me to switch my phone off. And I'm like, no, I can't do that. Because if I had a missed call from Mr. A, or Mrs. A, and then the next day I found out they're dying, how would I ever cope? It's not my cup of tea.

If you're ever thinking of starting, maybe come and join Project 23 for six months and just see what it's about. Be open, say that you're thinking of starting a group and I'll help you to the best of my ability because the more groups that are out there, the better for me, the better for the community and I love Wythenshawe. I don't think you'll get anyone that loves Wythenshawe as much as I do. I really do love it.

Global Outreach and Support

[00:27:15] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: So Mark, just because we have listeners from 50 different countries, not everybody can actually come here, so besides being committed, is there any other advice you'd like to offer?

Personal Motivation and Commitment

[00:27:25] Mark Sproston: Basically you've just got to be committed, like I said. You've got to commit to it. This isn't something you can do half-heartedly. I was pushed into it because my brother committed suicide.

Would I have done it if my brother wouldn't have died? I don't think I would, and that's me being honest. But like I say, things happen for a reason, and I think that was my reasoning. I didn't want to do this because my brother died. But I would imagine, if you're doing this without a reason behind it, you must have some commitment.

That would be fantastic, I had a reason behind it, and that's what keeps me going. But sometimes I do forget why I do it, don't get me wrong, and I just totally enjoy. In that regard, just, if you're going to do it, please be committed. You can't invite someone in, say you're going to help them, and then just never speak to them again. Because that can make them worse.

Just get a nice few people that you totally trust, start advertising your services, and advertise them maybe a couple of months before you officially are willing to take people on. And just say, look, we're this group, and we're going to be doing this. The opening date is this.

But you can join before, but we won't really be interacting with you, we just want to get the feelers, we want to put the feelers out there to see how many people are interested and do it that way. But good luck if you do, you've always got me to give you the support, I'll give you any support that I can.

[00:28:50] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: And that's really great advice about getting committed people with you and also about reaching out to the community before you launch so that there is awareness.

Upcoming Events and Community Engagement

[00:29:02] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: An opportunity for you to talk about anything coming up in the next few months that I haven't asked you about.

[00:29:08] Mark Sproston: What we always do is we always have a Project 23 day. They're pretty good. We normally give a couple of weeks’ notice. We've not set the date for this one, but when we get out there, we always wear our t shirts, and normally I supply these free of charge and we go.

And we'll go to quite a popular place, and that on it's own works wonders, because people are like, I've got the same t shirt, so what? And on the back of it, it says keeping fit is much cheaper than therapy, and it is, and I don't know If you can see it properly.

[00:29:41] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Oh, I can. Yes, I would love that. My version is walking with my dogs.

[00:29:46] Mark Sproston: This one like I could be walking down the street and I have it on, and people say that, that is a great statement. But, little things like that, but we're just here to try and help people, try and make people better. Because it's a horrible, desperate place to be. When you can't control your thoughts. It's so frightening, so terrifying, just get in touch with me.

I will help in some way, and if you're a woman, you want to speak to a woman, that's fine. But, to be honest, I don't normally get discriminated against. The women, I seem to get on well with the women as well.

If you're struggling, please get help, whichever part of the world you're in. You've got to get help because you're not going to get any better and your life's going to be more and more miserable every single day and you don't want that. And we're proof in the pudding that you can get better, so look me in the eye and just think I'm going to get better.

Get yourself better because you don't want to be that person forever. Because you can't, your body, your mind, your whole existence won't allow it. And we don't even want to talk about the only way out, that people think, because it's horrendous. If you get help.

There was no structure in place in Wythenshawe when my brother died. And I had no idea that he was going to kill himself. No idea at all. But yet my son said, I always thought something like that, Dad. I was like, wow. That's amazing what different people say. But there was no structure there. There was nowhere for him to go anyway. But now, we're giving you a chance.

We're offering, look, there's somewhere to go. We want to save lives. That's all we want to do. We don't want any financial gain. Everything's free of charge, and when you meet a group like ours, and you know that they're not in it for themselves, they're in it for other people, that's when it comes good.

That's when it comes good. Because everybody that comes to us knows we're not in it for any gain, we're in it purely to help you. And please don't forget that, because I love the part of helping people and I'll help you. I'm looking directly at you. I will help each and every one of you guys out there. I will give you any kind of advice.

All you've got to do is contact us.

[00:32:04] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thanks so much, Mark. I know this is something people really do struggle with, but it's great that you're there for them.

Signature Questions

I'm going to move to the signature questions.

The first one for you, if Manchester was a colour, which colour would it be and why?

[00:32:18] Mark Sproston: Without a doubt, red. Because it's vibrant, it's happy and it's Manchester United.

[00:32:23] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That's great. And red is one of my favourite colours as well.

If you could choose a famous landmark in Manchester to represent you, which one would it be and why?

[00:32:33] Mark Sproston: Oliver Cromwell, Wythenshawe Park. Brilliant. It's been there forever, and it'll always be there. The symbol of a Wythenshawe man. Standing tall, with his hand on his weapon. Beautiful.

[00:32:44] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That is really special. And Wythenshawe Park just down the road from where I live as well, so it's one of my favourite places.

If you could trade lives with someone in Manchester for a day, who would it be with and why?

[00:32:59] Mark Sproston: The most Mancunian guy I've ever met in me life. Very clever. Very switched on. I was saying that, I want mine to be in Tyson Fury as well. Because I love that man. He's a true Wythenshawe. In fact, I'd have to go with Tyson Fury. And the reason being, is that he was an underdog. And he proved everyone wrong.

[00:33:19] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I love that reason that you've chosen that he was an underdog who proved people wrong. Lovely.

What's the most important life lesson you've learned so far? It sounds like you've learned a lot of lessons, but maybe one that you'd like to call out. I

[00:33:33] Mark Sproston: Be genuine. Just be genuine. Because if you give it all this big, I am, and you're not genuine, you'll soon get caught out, and you'll soon be the laughingstock. Just be genuine. Can't beat that.

[00:33:46] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Think that authenticity is such an important thing. Very important in today's day and age where there's a lot of fakeness. I totally agree.

What's the most important personality trait to be successful in your role?

[00:34:01] Mark Sproston: Got to be a good listener. got to be somebody that if you're prepared to give one minute, you've got to be prepared to give an hour. You don't know how long somebody's going to be on that phone when they first contact you, or if they're messaging you.

You've got to be there for the long haul. So your personality has to be open. You've got an open personality in regards of, you're going to give it everything. Give it everything.

[00:34:28] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Point about being a good listener is really important because, you don't just take the first surface, you have to be a good listener. The thing that somebody responds to you with, but really asking them, how are you doing, to speak to me and listen. That is really powerful. And that's the gift of attention. It's a really powerful gift. Somebody who cares a lot about

[00:34:51] Mark Sproston: Good way of putting it very good way of putting it.

[00:34:53] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: How can interested people reach out to you and learn more?

[00:34:56] Mark Sproston: On YouTube it's Project 23 Mental Health Group. Project 23, you'll find the group on Facebook.

[00:35:05] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Last one, is there a funny or a heartwarming story you'd like to share with listeners to end the podcast

Heartwarming Stories and Impact

[00:35:11] Mark Sproston: I'll tell you what, there's a heartwarming one and this is by far the most I don't know how to describe it, but get this into your mind. I go to Wythenshawe Cricket Club a lot of youth do. I still go, I was there the other day. So when there's a cricket match on because it can be a long day, people just walk around the pitch every now and again.

I'd go for a walk before the match started. And so I'm right opposite the clubhouse. I can't be any further away from the clubhouse. The only way for me to go is come all the way back round. And I remember looking, and I seen some people pointing towards me, and this gentleman was walking, but he, you know when you say somebody's got money?

This man was dressed immaculately. He reminded me of a barrister or a doctor, but like a surgeon. He had this beautiful overcoat on, beautiful tie slacks. And he, I know he's coming to me, because he's no one else with me. And the match hasn't started yet, so I've stayed where I was. And I'm trying not to look at him, because it's quite embarrassing.

Anyway, as he gets closer, it's quite emotional, this, because I still don't know the reason that he did it. But he walks up to me, and he just put his hands out, and he shook me hand, and he went, all I want to say is thank you. God, it gets me now. If you can see the hairs on my arms, they're all stood up. He just said, thank you. Stood around and walked away. And I don't know to this day what I've done. But I must have done something.

[00:36:39] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I think Mark, you must have helped one of his loved ones or himself.

[00:36:43] Mark Sproston: I think so. But I don't know. I don't know. He was just . The tear in his eye got me, when I think about it. He had a tear in his eye.

Suicide Prevention and Community Support

[00:36:52] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I was reading about suicide prevention because some of my guests have talked about this. 37 people get impacted by a single suicide. So it's not just the person themselves. It's all their family, their friends, their classmates or colleagues.

[00:37:08] Mark Sproston: Oh, horrendous.

[00:37:10] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: This is what, when I've seen people struggle, I'm just trying to say that, we need you in our lives.

[00:37:17] Mark Sproston: One good thing that I try and put across to people, if you're walking down the street and someone's having a bit of a bad time, excuse me, and you'll go, Hiya, you all right? And they'll go, I'm okay. And you'd only walk past each other. Just at that second, are you all right?

In the conversation, it changes everything. So I'll see you and I'll go, You okay? And you go, yes, and I go, No, are you okay? And people think, oh yeah he really is asking if I'm okay. He's not just a figure of speech. So have you had that second, no, but are you okay? Works wonders.

[00:37:53] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: It does. I've seen that myself as well.

Final Thoughts and Gratitude

[00:37:56] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you so much, Mark. It's been wonderful journey. All the work that you've been doing in the community. And thank you for everything that you and the team at Project 23 are doing.

[00:38:07] Mark Sproston: God bless you. Thank you so much.

Outro

Mark, I really enjoyed learning about supporting mental health today.

Dear listener, thank you so much for listening to the seventh episode of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, Season Eight.

Tune in every Tuesday for a new episode or log on to www.meetthemancunian.co.Uk to listen to all the episodes and learn more about my podcasting story.

Next week on Tuesday 23^rd July, 2023, I speak to Danny Ryder about supporting theater in the community.

Thank you for joining me on the Meet the Mancunian podcast, social impact stories from Manchester. I hope today's conversation has sparked new ideas and inspired you to act in your community.

A big thank you to my wonderful community for your continuous support and valuable feedback. Your stories shape the very essence of my podcast, driving me forward with purpose. I'm eager to hear your thoughts. Visit my website at meetthemancunian.co.uk to share your insights.

And remember, this podcast is your platform too. Let's stay connected on social media. Find me @MeettheMancunian on Instagram and Facebook, @MancunianPod on X, and @MeettheMancunianPodcast on YouTube.

Together, we're more than just listeners. We're a vibrant community dedicated to making a difference in Manchester. Spread the love by sharing, commenting and engaging with my guests and me. Keep fostering connections and always remember the power to change the world lies within each of us.

Until next time.