Welcome to the March newsletter
Well, that was a whirlwind of a first quarter of the year!
We have seen new Walk ‘N’ Talk groups launched, fantastic events planned and completed, awards won (see below!) and grants secured.
And we couldn’t have done it without the help of our teams, Mates and Volunteers. So thank you to all of you.
Carl, Jeff and Rinny
Walk ‘N’ Talk Wednesdays Continue to Grow
Our Walk ‘N’ Talk Wednesdays community programme continues to grow, and we’re incredibly proud to now have five active Walk ‘N’ Talk groups supporting people across different communities.
With the recent launch of Swindon – Lydiard Park, we saw a fantastic evening where 45 people were out across our five locations, walking, talking and benefiting from the simple power of connection.
Every week these walks create a safe and welcoming space where people can step away from the pressures of daily life, get some fresh air and talk with others who understand that sometimes the best support starts with a conversation.
Our current Walk ‘N’ Talk locations are:
- Swindon – Coate Water
- Swindon – Lydiard Park
- Folkestone
- Melksham
- Yate / Chipping Sodbury
And the momentum continues.
We’re excited to announce that Cheltenham launched its Walk ‘N’ Talk yesterday, 25th March, with early discussions already taking place about additional groups in Gloucestershire, Worcester and Birmingham.
As these groups grow, so does the impact they have within their communities.
To help us continue expanding the programme we are always looking for:
- Walk ‘N’ Talk Leaders who would like to help host and support local groups
- Local sponsors who want to support community wellbeing and help keep these sessions running
Every new walk means more people connecting, supporting one another and realising they’re not alone.
And that’s exactly why Best Mates exists.
Best Mates Named Charity of the Year at the South West Business Awards
We are incredibly proud to share that Best Mates – We Got Ya has been named Charity of the Year at the South West Business Awards.
Jeff Tucker attended the evening alongside fellow Best Mates colleagues Shereyln Cowles, one of our fantastic Walk ‘N’ Talk leaders from Melksham, and Janet Shreeve from Shreeve Care Services.
Simply being nominated and shortlisted amongst such strong charities from across the region already felt like a huge achievement. To then hear the words…
“And the winner is… Best Mates – We Got Ya.”
…was a moment none of us will forget.
This award belongs to every single person who has been part of the journey over the past two years. From our Walk ‘N’ Talk leaders and volunteers, to the people who have shared their stories, supported events, offered advice, or simply turned up when someone needed a Best Mate.
What started as an idea built on lived experience has now grown into a charity supporting people across multiple communities through connection, conversation and support.
Awards like this help raise awareness of the work we are doing and allow us to reach even more towns, communities and individuals who may need a Best Mate by their side.
As Jeff said on the night, speaking on behalf of himself and Carl:
“This award belongs to every single person who has helped, supported and believed in what Best Mates stands for. Thank you to everyone who has been part of building this over the past two years. We are your Best Mates… and we got ya.”
International Women’s Day
This month saw us recognise an important day in our calendar – International Women’s Day.
Sometimes people assume Best Mates is a men’s charity, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Women are a huge part of our community and play a vital role in our work every single day. In fact, over half of the people we support are women.
We want to recognise and thank the amazing women who give their time, energy, care, and compassion to help make Best Mates what it is today.
Without these women, we simply couldn’t do what we do. From supporting beneficiaries and leading Walk ‘N’ Talks to volunteering at events, guiding conversations, offering wisdom, and helping keep everything moving forward, these women have a huge impact on our community.
- Corinne Paul
- Carol Owens
- Katie Tidy
- Vanessa White
- Sarah Bolshaw
- Yvonne Parker
- Sian Jones
- Jules Tooby
- Lily Matic Pepperall
- Mandira Tripathi
- Emma Huby
- Sheena Dickens
- Alicia Osei
- Hollie Brodie
- Henrietta MacEwen
- Becky Avalon
- Charlotte Fullam
- Emma Matlock
- Michelle Dinnis
- Jo Jo Newman
- Louisa Wheeler
So in honour of International Women’s Day, and every day, we celebrate not only the incredible women within Best Mates but also the women around the world who support, guide, care for others, and quietly keep things moving forward every day.
Thank you for everything you do for us and for the people we support. Your impact matters more than you know.
Pride of Swindon
This month, our CEO Carl McCulloch was honoured with a Pride of Swindon award in recognition of his dedicated work with Best Mates. Selected from a competitive pool of 140 nominations, Carl was one of only 12 finalists invited to the ceremony at The Hilton Hotel on 5th March.
Following the main awards, Carl was also named one of the evening’s five highest-scoring winners. As part of this special recognition, he was presented with a unique opportunity for the Best Mates logo to appear on the Swindon Town FC first-team shirts for their upcoming match against Accrington Stanley on 18th April.
This prize was generously donated and presented by Stephen Trowbridge MBE to mark the incredible impact Carl and the entire Best Mates team have made in the community.
New Sporting Ambassador
Professional boxer John Hedges, otherwise known as The Gentleman, has joined forces with Best Mates in an effort to provide physical and emotional support to members of the sporting fraternity. Having recently lost his friend Ricky Hatton to suicide, John is very aware of the challenges sports people face as they transition through, and out of their career, particularly in boxing.
John said “I love the work that Best Mates does, and the impact they can have on people’s lives and so I wanted to see we could work together to make even a small to difference to people who need support, but don’t know where to get it”
Carl McCulloch, CEO said, “We can’t wait to get this partnership going with John. The belief he has in what we do and has been a long time supporter of ours from the wings. I think we can do some really good things together”.
Discussions have already started about fundraising and awareness events in John’s local area to help spread the word and show people that there really is very real, and very accessible support out there.
Meet Your Mates
Name: Jo Newman.
Location: Wickwar (Near Chipping Sodbury in South Gloucestershire).
Fav food: Chicken Gyros.
Holiday destination: Anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Pet Hate: Unkindness.
Fun fact about myself: I wanted to be a fighter jet pilot when I was a child.
Why I became a Mate: I’ve had my own struggles, so I know how important it is to feel supported and not alone.
Area of Support (superpower): I am curious and non-judgmental. Being a neurodivergent woman who is a married mum to 3 adult children who all have additional needs and works in mental health, I get that life is anything but easy. I passionately believe that hope, connection and empowerment will get us through.
Best Thing About Being in Best Mates: is connecting with inspiring people in my community who might be going through a tough time and being part of an incredible tribe of people who are making the world around us a better place.
Could You Be A Mate?
As Best Mates continues to grow, the need for more people willing to step forward and make a difference grows as well.
We are currently recruiting more ‘Mates‘ – individuals with lived experience who have faced their own challenges, found a way through, and now feel ready to help guide and support others walking a similar path.
Being a Mate isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about understanding. It’s about listening without judgment. It’s about saying, “I get it,” and meaning it. That shared experience can be incredibly powerful for someone who feels alone or unsure where to turn.
If you’ve come through tough times and are now in a place where you feel strong enough to support someone else, we would love to hear from you.
www.bestmates.org, email contact@bestmates.org or pick up the phone and call 0300 303 6283
Volunteers Needed – Join The Team
We’re also expanding our wider volunteer network, led by our very own Kris Walklett, who has stepped up to help coordinate and support volunteers across our growing number of events.
Whether it’s helping at Walk N Talk, supporting community events, assisting with admin, or simply being present to share the Best Mates message, there are many ways to get involved.
Volunteering with Best Mates means becoming part of a team that is actively changing lives in local communities. It’s hands-on, meaningful, and rooted in genuine care for others.
If you’re interested in becoming a Mate or joining our volunteer team, please get in touch –
www.bestmates.org email contact@bestmates.org or pick up the phone and call 0300 303 6283
Together, we can continue building something that truly makes a difference.
For more details and to sign up to any of our events, please go to https://bestmates.org/our-events/
Turning Support Into Real Impact
Here’s a snapshot of the impact we’ve made together up to 26th March 2026, showing how your support is changing lives.
