We ALL need a sense of purpose

Pwrpas was conceived by Julian Hughes, a prominent advocate of adult education and training. Having worked extensively with third sector organisations, ex-service personnel and ex-offenders across the UK, Julian has first-hand experience of the issues many men face when seeking training and employment opportunities.

Due to the pandemic in particular, Julian has seen men from all walks of life struggle with the strict lockdown restrictions, which for many resulted in isolation and the loss of active employment.

Reflecting on the first few months of the initial lockdown, he said: As we went into lockdown, I was adamant I was going to use the time to do something constructive; something that would make a difference.

With the help of an amazing group of friends, I was able to set up Pwrpas as a charity and coordinate the development of a website that offers a user-friendly, single-reference point that could help men to improve their mental health.

But why the name Pwrpas (Purpose)?

A growing body of research is finding that a strong sense of purpose typically results in better mental health outcomes. For many, the pandemic has resulted in the loss of employment, socialisation, physical activity and overall direction.

Julian believes having a sense of purpose is fundamental to our general wellbeing.

Having spent much of his career supporting disadvantaged people back into the workplace with the belief that training and personal development is a panacea, Julian said: "We are currently working with a number of like-minded charities with whom we can work to reach and help a wider audience.

It is evident from our discussions that such collaborations could bring a wealth of benefits to individuals and communities across Wales, including social and economic advantages."

During this Mental Health awareness week, please help us raise funds to continue our fight to spread awareness about MENtal health and signpost the support that is out there.