Changing the face of Men’s health - Movember 2025

Educational workshops: Andy’s Man Club and Oddballs 

To support the month, the Sports Union invited two organisations to deliver educational workshops throughout the month.

Andy’s Man Club, known for its nationwide network of over 150 judgement-free support groups, delivered an impactful session on the importance of fostering open and honest conversations about mental health. Their weekly Monday meetings, led by trained volunteers, offer men an invaluable opportunity to connect and share experiences in a supportive environment. 

The Oddballs Foundation lead a session raising awareness of testicular cancer. Their talks raise awareness of testicular cancer whilst educating the demographic most at risk, men aged between 20 and 34. They encourage self-checking and breaking down the stigma associated with balls. 

These educational workshops were a great way to spread the important messages within the Movember campaign. 

Sports Clubs and Intramural Teams Having an Impact

Sports clubs and Intramural (IM) teams across the University of Edinburgh showed an exceptional commitment to the campaign by hosting creative fundraising events throughout the month. This year’s efforts saw an amazing 25 sports clubs and 10 IM teams get involved in the campaign raising a total of £22,620.   

The top three sports union clubs on the University of Edinburgh Movember leaderboard at the end of the month were Men’s Football, Cricket and Table Tennis. A standout fundraiser this year was the Men’s Football club 24 hour run. Individuals from the club ran non-stop, running over 100km and raising over £500. 

Then the top three IM teams were Engineers Rugby, Jager Boys FC and Informatics Sport. Engineers Rugby were involved in some great events for Movember including the annual Movember pub quiz matched with a series of fun challenges to help their fundraising efforts. Alongside this, the Jager Boys got involved in a range of fun challenges, including a cold-water dip at portobello, a climb up Arthur’s Seat and a Karaoke on the Royal Mile. 

Emma Vice President Intramural Sport said:

Our 8-hour Netball-a-thon was played in support of the 1 in 8 men who experience mental health issues. Teams showed amazing energy and resilience throughout, creating a fantastic atmosphere for an important cause. A massive thank you to all IM teams and staff for your enthusiasm and hard work across both events. Your dedication — despite tough weather — helped us raise money for an incredibly important cause!

 

Celebrating International Men’s Day

To celebrate, international men’s day on the 19^th November, the Men’s Rugby and Football Club were involved in a short documentary filmed by EUTV.  In the video, they spoke about what Movember means to them, highlighting some of their favourite memories of Movember and how they would get involved this year. 

When we all come together to share insights about Movember, about each other and have those conversations, that’s something that's really special.

Arthur Loveland, Men’s Rugby Wellbeing Secretary 

Movember is one of the biggest months for me, for the club it's a massive deal. We have a lot of club members past and present who have been really impacted by Movember.

Toby Elkins, Men’s Football President

Sport helps a lot, it’s great to forget about everything and focus on the pitch with your mates

Matthew Begg, Men’s Football Wellbeing and Inclusion Officer

How to Check in with a Friend

If you want to check in with a friend and see how they’re doing, remember the ALEC approach:

Ask: Start by mentioning anything different you’ve noticed 

Listen: Give your full attention, then follow up questions - “That can’t be easy, how long have you felt that way?” 

Encourage action: help them focus on simple things that improve wellbeing – “How much sleep are you getting” or “Are you eating/exercising regularly” 

Check in: Suggest a catch=up soon, drop them a message

Looking after your own mental health is equally important. Simple actions like spending time outdoors, pursuing hobbies, or reaching out to your support network can make a difference.

Find Support

Movember reminds us that no one should face their struggles alone. Together, we can create a culture where men feel supported, valued, and heard.

Davis Hedgecoe, Men’s Rugby President 

“Hopefully our fundraising event can help raise awareness so that everyone knows to reach out and talk to someone”

Whether you’re looking for help or hoping to support others, the following resources are available: