About us
Real talk. Real tools.
Under Pressure is a social enterprise giving men a solid, no-BS space to drop the act, talk mental health and get real tools for life's pressure.
We're starting with one group in Manchester, built so it can be repeated in towns and cities across the UK.
Mo's story
Why I started this
I've been there. Felt the strain.
I know what it's like to carry it all and tell everyone you're fine.
Where I'm from, you don't talk about it. You crack on. You "man up". I did that for a long time, and I watched good lads around me do the same. Some of them are still struggling in silence. That's what gets me.
What helped me was two things: moving my body, and having people I could actually be honest with. Training gave me somewhere to put the pressure. Talking gave me a way to let it out.
So that's what Under Pressure is. Sweat it out. Talk it out. No corporate fluff, no lectures. Just a proper space where asking for help is normal, run by someone who gets it.
I'm sick of seeing good guys suffer when a simple chat could literally save a life. No one should go through it alone.
Mo, founder, Under Pressure
What we're about
Mission & vision
Our mission
To give any man dealing with stress, burnout or isolation a place to drop the act, talk honestly and pick up real tools for life's pressure. Through peer groups, sport and fitness, and the UnderPressurePod podcast.
Our vision
A country where asking for help is totally normal for men. Where no one goes through it alone, and where a chat with a mate is the first thing you reach for, not the last.
Who we're for
Any guy feeling the pressure, and the families and friends who care about them.
How we do it
Free 12-week peer groups, a podcast, meetups and workshops, all built around one idea: mental health through sport and fitness.
Keeping it safe
Peer support, with a proper safety net
Peer support is powerful, but it doesn't replace professional care. So we've built in a backstop.
- Every man has a 30-minute chat with us before joining, to check it's the right fit and that he's safe.
- We're backed by licensed therapists and clinical leads.
- If someone needs more than a group can give, we fast-track them to one-to-one professional support or NHS crisis care.
- Groups are small, closed and confidential, with clear ground rules.
- We are not a crisis service. Anyone in immediate danger should call 999. Crisis support.
How we're set up
What's a CIC?
UnderPressurePod CIC is a Community Interest Company: a type of social enterprise registered in England & Wales.
It means we exist for the benefit of the community. Any money we make is reinvested into our work, and our assets are "locked" by law so they can only be used for that purpose.
We're not a registered charity. We fund free groups for men through paid workshops for employers, alongside donations and fundraising. (Because we're a CIC, Gift Aid doesn't apply to donations.)
Company no. [TBC]. Registered office: [TBC].