Newsletter

November Newsletter

November Newsletter

Welcome to the November newsletter

Time is flying by, and Best Mates continues to go from strength to strength.

We’ve recruited more Mates this past month than any other; we’ve had more beneficiaries need our help, and more corporates have talked to us about joining forces to make the world a better place.

Christmas is coming up, and our message to you is this: take a moment to check in on those around you and make sure they are okay. It’s a difficult time of year for many people, so just a simple phone call can make a huge difference. It takes just two minutes but can change a life.

Park to Plaza
London to Brussels 2026

Our next European adventure has just been released, and we would love for you to join us.

Last time we cycled from London to Paris, but now we are heading a little further north as we start in Hyde Park and finish in the Grand Place, Brussels.

We will cycle on average 75-80 miles a day across four days, taking in some wonderful countryside in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. You don’t need to be a fitness fanatic or even wildly fit to be able to take part in this fun event. All you need is your own bike and a sense of adventure.

If you would like to join us, please visit our website.

Welcome, Julie Tooby

We’re thrilled to announce that Julie Tooby has officially joined Best Mates as our newest Trustee!

Julie has been a passionate supporter of Best Mates for some time, and this new role marks an exciting next step both for Julie and for the future of our charity.

Julie brings incredible energy, experience, and vision to the team, and her passion for helping people feel seen, heard and supported aligns perfectly with who we are and what we stand for.

In her own words:

“I believe deeply in Best Mates mission to bring people together through shared purpose, and I’m passionate about helping to expand its reach and long-term impact.”

We’re so happy to have Julie join our community and help push our mission forward, supporting more people through life’s toughest challenges.

From Supporters to Charity Partners

We’re proud to officially announce that Best Mates will become Trak Employment’s chosen charity partner from January 1st, 2026.

While we’ve supported and backed the incredible work of Best Mates over the past few years, this new formal partnership marks an exciting step forward. One built on shared values, community focus, and genuine impact.

Following conversations between Vicki and Carl, we’ve agreed to make this commitment, which will benefit both Best Mates and Trak Employment. Together, we aim to raise between £5,000 and £10,000 per year through fundraising events, donations, and collaboration.

I’m incredibly proud that Trak is now officially supporting a charity as meaningful and impactful as Best Mates. The work they do genuinely changes lives, and it’s a privilege to be part of that journey.” Vicki McCulloch

Best Mates and Lashings Partnering in 2026

We’re absolutely delighted to announce our partnership with Lashings heading into 2026. They’ve already shown incredible support throughout 2025, and we’re truly grateful for everything they’ve done so far.

Corporate partnerships like this are a major part of what allows Best Mates to keep growing, support more people, and reach those who need us most. When organisations choose to stand with us, they help us change lives. It’s as simple as that.

As Carl put it best:

Absolutely delighted to be working with Dave, Scott and the team at Lashings to support their clients and colleagues through 2026.

We can’t wait to see where this partnership goes, how it evolves, and the positive impact we’ll create together next year.

Here’s to a powerful year ahead and to doing what we do best: helping people through life’s toughest challenges.

Community Spirit in Action – Thank You Bassett Bulldogs

This month, our Co-Founder Jeff had the privilege of joining the incredible Bassett Bulldogs to share the story of Best Mates, raising awareness through the power of teamwork and community.

We are absolutely delighted and deeply grateful to announce that the evening raised a massive £1,213 to help us continue supporting people through life’s toughest moments.

A special mention to Wayne, whose courage in sharing his own difficult journey was truly inspiring. His honesty opened the door for others to speak up, reach out, and realise they are not alone.

To everyone who organised, donated, and took part, you are amazing. Your kindness makes a real difference, and we couldn’t do what we do without people like you.

Meet Your Mates

Name: Andy O’Malley (Ambassador)
Location: Marlborough/Swindon
Hobbies: Running, playing pool, watching my kids play football and rugby
Fav food: Thai for the flavours or a medium/rare steak
Holiday destination: Thailand for its beaches and sunsets
Pet Hate: People who are late
Fun fact about myself: I love pushing myself to my limits with physical and mental challenges
Why I became a Mate: After my own personal struggles in 2022, I realised that people who are struggling in life really needed someone who has been through a similar situation to put an arm around them in their time of need. Best Mates allows me to do that
Area of Support (superpower): Understanding of Depression & Suicide
Best Thing About Being in Best Mates: Having the opportunity and platform to help people who are struggling in life. From the charity fundraising, Walk N Talks, acting as a Mate to various beneficiaries, I am fully aware how important being a Best Mate is.

Turning Support Into Real Impact

Here’s a snapshot of the impact we’ve made together up to 28th November 2025, showing how your support is changing lives.

1375 834 Carl McCulloch
October Newsletter

October Newsletter

Welcome to the October newsletter

If October was a golf term it would be Moving Day. New partnerships, more Mates, more beneficiaries, more support granted. We have moved the needle so much this month as our footprint grows across the UK and we are so grateful for the support of everyone.

A huge thank you to our 3 Peaks team

Andy Hughes, John Lewis, Andy O’Malley, Hen McEwan, Duncan Griffin, Mark Howarth and Carl McCulloch who, between them, raised a very impressive total of £5481.

Infinity Connect partners with Best Mates – #wegotya as Charity of the Year

We’re excited to announce that Infinity Connect has chosen to renew their partnership with Best Mates – #wegotya as their Charity of the Year through to the end of 2026!

Over the next year and a half, they’ll continue working closely with the team on a range of fundraising events, awareness campaigns, and volunteering opportunities, all aimed at amplifying our incredible work and making a real difference in our communities.

Infinity Connect Director, Julie Tooby, shared her excitement about the partnership:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have renewed our support for Best Mates – wegotya. They’re doing brilliant work for people facing life challenges, and we’re proud to help them grow their impact even further.”

Carl McCulloch, CEO and Co-Founder of Best Mates – wegotya, added:

“We’re delighted to align with Infinity Connect, an organisation that truly believes in our mission and takes its social responsibility seriously.”

Together, we’re looking forward to championing health, well-being, and positive change across our communities.

Chloe McNiven x Best Mates

Exciting News: Welcoming Our New Patron to Best Mates! 🎉

Carl and Chloe, plus Mark Howarth from MCH London and Simon Jones MBE, ex-International Cricketer

We are thrilled to announce that Chloe McNiven, fresh from securing her Guinness World Record for running an ultramarathon with her son in a pram, has joined Best Mates as our new Patron!

Chloe brings an incredible passion for our mission to support friendship, inclusion, and wellbeing in our community. With her long-standing commitment to health and wellbeing in general, she embodies the values that make Best Mates such a special organisation.

As Patron, Chloe will help champion our cause, raise awareness, and inspire others to get involved in creating a more connected and compassionate world.
We couldn’t be more excited to have Chloe join the Best Mates family. Please join us in giving a warm welcome and celebrating this wonderful partnership!

💙 Together, we’re making a difference

Best Mates Announces 2026 Partnership with Midlands Concrete Society

We’re excited to share that Best Mates – #wegotya will be partnering with the Midlands Concrete Society throughout 2026!

Both organisations share a strong commitment to collaboration, community, and making a positive impact, and this partnership marks an exciting new chapter for both teams.

Carl McCulloch, Co-Founder of Best Mates, said:

“We’re delighted to have joined forces with the Midlands Concrete Society for 2026. Their goals and values align perfectly with ours, and we’re looking forward to working together next year.”

The Midlands Concrete Society, known for advancing technical excellence in concrete design and application, sees the partnership as a way to bring fresh energy and purpose to its 2026 programme.

James Kilby, Chairperson of the Society, added:

“Even though 2026 hasn’t arrived yet, we’re already thrilled to partner with Best Mates – wegotya as our chosen charity. Their mission isn’t just a statement, it’s a real commitment to changing lives through financial, emotional, and practical support.”

The partnership officially launches in January 2026, with a series of joint events and initiatives planned throughout the year.

A Birthday to Remember 🎉

Saturday was one for the books as we joined MCH London to celebrate their incredible 7th birthday! From start to finish, the day was filled with energy, inspiration, and community spirit.

We’re honoured and thrilled that MCH has chosen Best Mates as their Charity of the Year, and we can’t wait for an amazing year ahead, working together to make a real difference.

The celebrations had it all: a delicious sit-down lunch, inspiring talks from Chloe McNiven and cricket legend Simon Jones MBE, and a fun-filled quiz and auction raising vital funds for Best Mates.

From L-R – Tony James (Infinity Connect), Carl McCulloch, Mark Howarth (MCH), Julie Tooby (Infinity Connect)
and Michael Ward (MWASR)

A huge thank you goes to Mark, MCH’s Founder and a long-time supporter of Best Mates, along with his fantastic team, for going above and beyond to make the day so special.

It was wonderful to see our Best Mates community come together; reconnecting, meeting new faces, and celebrating in such a meaningful way.

Look out for the fundraising total in next month’s newsletter.

Celebrating 10 Years of Black Nova Designs 💙

On Saturday 18th October, our Co-Founder Jeff Tucker had the pleasure of attending the 10th Birthday Celebration of one of our incredible local supporters, Black Nova Designs.

Founder Danielle Holmes has been an outstanding advocate for Best Mates since first meeting Jeff 18 months ago. Their ongoing commitment to raising awareness and funds, from their popular driving simulator challenges to choosing Best Mates as their charity beneficiary during their birthday raffle, truly reflects the spirit of community partnership we value so much.

The celebration took place at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon, where guests were also treated to an unforgettable talk by Jamie McAnsh. Jamie shared his remarkable journey, from losing mobility from the waist down overnight and facing his darkest moments, to ultimately achieving his childhood dream of climbing Mount Everest. His story of resilience and determination left everyone deeply moved and inspired.

Jeff opened the evening with a talk about why Best Mates exists, what we do, and how we’re supporting local communities. His words set the perfect tone for Jamie’s message of hope, courage, and overcoming adversity, a reminder of exactly why Best Mates continues to do what we do.

We’re starting 2026 with something special – Women Who Walk!

A new Best Mates event bringing women together to walk, connect, and support one another.

Join us for a 25km walk celebrating women’s strength and solidarity, in Swindon or wherever you are in the UK. Lace up, step out, and be part of something bigger.

📅 Saturday 10th January 2026
🕙 10am Start

Share your journey! Tag @BestMates_wegotya and use #WomenWhoWalk – we want to see your steps, smiles, and stories. Fundraising is optional; what matters most is walking together, just chatting and sharing.

Just Row With It chooses to support Best Mates as they Row the Atlantic!

We’re incredibly proud that Just Row With It has chosen Best Mates as one of the charities they’ll be supporting next winter, as they take on one of the world’s toughest challenges: rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in the 2026 World’s Toughest Row. The team is also aiming to set a new world record as the youngest trio to complete the crossing.

Their spirit of friendship, resilience and support perfectly reflects what Best Mates stands for, and we’re honoured to be part of their incredible journey.

As Meg from the team shared, “After meeting Jeff and hearing how the charity steps in for people who feel completely alone, something clicked.

Best Mates isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about being there when someone’s at their lowest. No judgment. No agenda. Just mateship, when it matters most.”

We’ll be cheering them on every mile of the way. Learn more and show your support:

Meet Your Mates

Name: Katie Tidy
Location: Stanford in the Vale. Oxfordshire.
Hobbies: Dancing, singing, entertaining in amateur dramatics, being creative, spending time in nature.
Fav food: Pizza
Holiday destination: Somewhere that adds a bit of peace to relax 😌
Pet Hate: Bullying.
Fun fact about myself: I did a wing walk this year, I run my own business as a wellness practitioner, I’m also a teaching assistant in a primary school.
Why I became a Mate: I have experienced some dark times in the past, and with my own experiences, I may be able to help others. Finding hope and strength when they feel they have nothing left to give. A listening ear when they need it.

Turning Support Into Real Impact

Here’s a snapshot of the impact we’ve made together up to 7th September 2025, showing how your support is changing lives.

1920 1280 Carl McCulloch
September Newsletter

September Newsletter

Welcome to the September newsletter and what a month it’s been!

We have seen so many activities going on and it’s so exciting to see the growth of Best Mates.

Chew Events created an amazing golf day for us, we’ve taken on nearly a dozen new beneficiaries, joined forces with four new support partners, our Walk and Talk groups are about to grow exponentially with new sites popping up across the southwest, and just this week our incredible team took on the challenge of all challenges by climbing the 3 Peaks in 24 hours!

Be sure to check out our website for the coming events that you can be involved in.

Corporate Partnership

Best Mates #wegotya named Charity of the Year by the advertising agency, MCH London

We are delighted to announce our newest corporate partnership as we join forces with MCH London. The collaboration will focus on raising awareness of our mission to ensure no one faces life’s challenges alone, while also generating vital funds.

Carl McCulloch of Best Mates shared:
​“This is an exciting partnership because MCH are fully supportive of our mission, and their whole team are behind what we are trying to achieve.”

Mark Howarth, Founder of MCH, added:
​“Best Mates is a young and dynamic charity trying to change people’s lives through lived experience. As a company, we believe in what they are doing and look forward to supporting them on their journey.”

Together, Best Mates and MCH London are committed to making a positive impact, empowering people through shared strength and support.

Saturday, 18th October, is a big fundraising day for Best Mates!

Join us in London at the MCH London x Best Mates charity party.

From 12 noon to 4pm, you are invited to join a celebration of MCH London, its people, charity work, and our new collaboration.

Enjoy a champagne reception and sit-down three-course lunch, a quiz featuring a celebrity Quizmaster, appearances of an Ashes 2005 winner and an ultra marathon, world-record breaking mum, plus several games, a prize draw and a live auction to raise funds for Best Mates.

Grab an early bird ticket by clicking the link below. Each ticket includes a £35 donation to Best Mates.

Then back in Swindon, and not to be missed, the Black Nova 10th Anniversary Party from 7pm!

If you’d like to be part of something meaningful (and have a great night out while you’re at it), come and celebrate with us! Use the link below to learn more and snap up tickets before they sell out.⁠

How so little goes a long way

As a small charity, our lifeblood is funding and giving. As the nation faces a difficult time financially, ongoing and repeat giving is always difficult to ask for, but is vital.

Just £10 per month will help us keep our essential Walk ‘n’ Talk programmes going and growing. These programmes are so important to people across the country as it gives them the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, possibly in a similar situation.

Where does your money go

£500 will give someone 10 hours of therapy and support
£900 will put someone through an alcohol or drug rehabilitation programme
£1500 will reintegrate a veteran into society

If you are able to give any amount regularly, you could change someone’s life immeasurably. Nobody should have to go through life’s challenges alone, so together we can make sure that never happens!

​Best Mates #wegotya

Meet Your Mates

Name: Emma Matlock
Location: Cricklade
Hobbies: Spending time with my girls, family & playing golf
Favourite Food: ⁠⁠Mexican food
Holiday Destination: Jamaica
Pet Hate: Lateness & rudeness
Fun / Interesting Fact About Yourself: I can do an unassisted headstand
Why You Became A Mate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Having been through some very dark, lonely times, I’ve come out the other side smiling again. I want to help others do the same by relating to them and not making them feel alone.
Area of Support: Alcoholism, addiction, anxiety, divorce, and single parenting.

One Night Can Change Lives – Sign Up for the CEO Sleepout Today

Our very own Jeff Tucker and Corine Paul are taking part in the CEO Sleepout again this year on the 17th November in Bristol, and we’re looking for 10 people to join them.

Last year’s event was eye-opening, offering a glimpse into the harsh reality faced by those forced to sleep outdoors on cold winter nights. Homelessness isn’t just about losing a roof; it takes a heavy toll on people’s mental and physical health.

At Best Mates, we’re proud to support the cause. Through donations from HERA, we’ve raised vital funds and distributed essential clothing to local charities helping those in need.

Now we’re asking you to step up, sleep out, and make a difference. Just one night away from your warm bed can bring hope to others and give you a new sense of perspective and gratitude.

Join Jeff and Corrine in supporting the CEO Sleepout. Register your interest by emailing jeff.tucker@bestmates.org today!

Sleep out, wake up, change lives

Turning Support Into Real Impact

Here’s a snapshot of the impact we’ve made together up to 7th August 2025, showing how your support is changing lives.

2400 1301 Carl McCulloch

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