01626 884544
dpt.openup@nhs.net
Where learning something new leads to confidence and connection
Funded by Open Up, the programme is built on a simple idea: sometimes the best way to support wellbeing isn’t through formal conversations, but by creating a space where people can connect naturally, side by side.
Open Up works across Devon and the South West to improve mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity care, supporting projects that bring fresh thinking, reduce barriers and create real, lasting impact in people’s lives.
Developed by Tobit Emmens, Acting Associate Director of Research and Development at Devon Partnership NHS Trust and delivered in partnership with Wellmoor, Thread Brothers is a 12-week group based in Moretonhampstead.
It brings men together to learn practical sewing and mending skills, repairing clothes, creating simple items and giving old fabrics a new life.
Just a few weeks in, the group has thrown itself into its very first project, making their own tote bags. Simple, practical and confidence-building, it’s been the perfect introduction to sewing. Even better, everyone has walked away with something they’ve made themselves, real, tangible proof of what they can do.
But what really stands out is the atmosphere. There’s energy, curiosity and a real willingness to try something new. Men who may never have signed up to a traditional service are showing up, learning together and building something quietly powerful along the way.
“Thread Brothers is about testing a different way of reaching men,” said Tobit. “By focusing on a practical activity, we can take the pressure away from talking directly about mental health, while still creating space for connection, confidence and support to grow naturally.”
Led by Tony Rea a skilled facilitator, the sessions feel welcoming, down-to-earth and accessible. It’s not about getting things perfect, it’s about having a go, learning something new and being part of a group.
Testing new ideas to create real change
This kind of approach matters. Many men experiencing loneliness or distress don’t engage with traditional services, often because they don’t feel relevant or comfortable. By offering something different, Thread Brothers opens the door to support earlier, before things reach crisis point.
Projects like this sit right at the heart of what Open Up exists to do, supporting innovation, encouraging early intervention and helping communities feel more connected. By funding ideas that wouldn’t normally sit within NHS services, Open Up can test new approaches and bring meaningful change to people’s lives.
At its core, Thread Brothers isn’t about sewing. It’s about connection, confidence and creating a space where people feel comfortable being themselves.
And sometimes, that starts with something as simple as a tote bag, a shared skill and a conversation that wouldn’t have happened anywhere else.
If you’d like to explore more projects like this and see the difference your support can make, visit our impact page.
