Masculinity

An **8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) course** \- take a deeper\, more sustained exploration of how mindfulness can support mental health\, wellbeing\, and everyday life\. MBCT offers a practical and compassionate approach to working with stress, anxiety, low mood, and self-critical thinking. Rather than trying to “fix” our thoughts or emotions, the course helps us develop a different relationship with them — one grounded in awareness, kindness, and choice. This 8-week MBCT course is designed for gay men who want a grounded, practical way to work with stress, anxiety, low mood, self-criticism, or a sense of always having to “hold it together”. Join us in a structured, supportive journey into mindfulness, self-care, and emotional resilience. Many gay men grow up adapting to environments where it wasn’t always safe to be fully ourselves. Over time, this can shape how we relate to our thoughts, bodies, emotions, and relationships — often leading to vigilance, comparison, shame, or feeling disconnected even when surrounded by others. This course offers a compassionate, evidence-based way of meeting these patterns with awareness and kindness, rather than self-judgement or self-improvement pressure. “This course gave me tools to stop being overwhelmed by my thoughts and emotions. It’s the single most impactful thing I’ve done for my mental health.” — Marie [BOOK SPRING COURSE](https://bookwhen.com/evolvingminds#focus=ev-ssnpj-20260430190000) [BOOK AUTUMN COURSE](https://bookwhen.com/evolvingminds#focus=ev-svamz-20261007190000) **How the course works** We meet in a small, closed group of up to 14 gay men, allowing trust, continuity, and depth to develop over time. Once the course begins, no new members join. The group format is an important part of the learning — many participants find that practising alongside other gay men brings a sense of ease, recognition, and belonging. Learning unfolds through guided meditation, gentle movement, reflection, and shared inquiry. We learn from the practices, and from one another. Unlike drop-in mindfulness sessions, this course follows a clear, progressive structure, with each week building on the last. By the end of the eight weeks, you’ll have a personal toolkit of practices you can draw on in everyday life — especially during moments of stress, self-criticism, or emotional overwhelm. **What you’ll explore:** * Becoming more present through the body and senses * Working skillfully with intrusive or self-critical thoughts * Developing a kinder, more supportive inner voice * Turning towards difficulty rather than fighting or avoiding it * Living more fully in the present moment * Cultivating steadiness, ease, and emotional resilience **Core practices include:** * Body scan * Mindfulness of breath and body * Loving-kindness * Compassion and self-acceptance (Many familiar from the Monday group, explored in greater depth.) **Is this course right for you?** This course may be especially supportive if you: * Feel stressed, anxious, low, or emotionally overwhelmed * Notice strong self-criticism or pressure to perform * Want a mindfulness course that feels human, grounded, and relational * Value practising in a group of other gay men * Are looking for tools you can actually use in daily life No previous meditation experience is required. The course is based on the internationally recognised MBCT programme developed at Oxford University, taught here with a compassion-centred, trauma-aware approach, and paced to support safety and integration. There is no requirement to “share” beyond what feels right for you. [BOOK SPRING COURSE](https://bookwhen.com/evolvingminds#focus=ev-ssnpj-20260430190000) [BOOK AUTUMN COURSE](https://bookwhen.com/evolvingminds#focus=ev-svamz-20261007190000) **Course dates Spring 2026** *Block 1* (Sessions 1–4) Thu 30 April Thu 7 May Thu 14 May Thu 21 May Integration break: Thu 28 May (no meeting) *Block 2* (Sessions 5–8) Thu 4 June Thu 11 June Thu 18 June Thu 25 June **Course dates Autumn 2026** Wednesday 7 October – Wednesday 25 November (Pre-booking welcome) **Practical details** ⏰ Time: 7–9.15pm 📍 Venue: Canary Wharf 🚇 Travel: • Canary Wharf (Jubilee / Elizabeth Line) — approx. 15-minute walk • East India DLR — approx. 5-minute walk ✨ Fee: £359 standard / £259 concession [BOOK SPRING COURSE](https://bookwhen.com/evolvingminds#focus=ev-ssnpj-20260430190000) [BOOK AUTUMN COURSE](https://bookwhen.com/evolvingminds#focus=ev-svamz-20261007190000)

**Join us on *Discord* to keep updated!** **[(Click me! Online Offline Discord)](https://discord.gg/uuwybw93kj)** Meetup with a group for a nice stroll in Battersea park! Bring a coffee.. or grab one in the parks café after! This event is weekly! Get out and about in Battersea park with new people! This isn't a strict walk - however it should be a scenic, fun and enjoyable walk for people of all ages, sizes & abilities! If you're looking for something more energetic have a look at some of our other group exercise activities!

Join OutdoorLads popular weekly Thursday Bouldering evening at The Arch in Bermondsey. OutdoorLads London boulderers welcome all members of the LGBTQ+ community You'll be meeting with a supportive group of 5 to 10 plus boulderers who are always happy to introduce complete beginners or solve difficult bouldering problems with enthusiasts. We usually follow up with a pub visit. This event is for members of all levels of experience and all are welcome to come along to any of the sessions. Bouldering is a form of climbing where instead of long high routes, the 'problems', as they are referred to, tend to be shorter and focus on technique, balance, body positioning and sometimes power. Because of this different emphasis, bouldering doesn't have the hassle of climbing with ropes, harnesses and belaying, which makes the activities excellent for newcomers to the sport. If you're a seasoned climber you won't need convincing about the benefits of bouldering, but for those who've never climbed more than a staircase, the benefits are wide ranging: from the physical - improved strength, tone, balance, power and coordination; mental - problem solving, focus, concentration and body awareness; to the emotional - relaxation, a sense of achievement and a feeling that mind and body are working together perfectly ('feeling psyched'). On top of all this, bouldering tends to be a very social sport where you can hang out with mates and each have a go as you feel regardless of what level you climb at.

Please join us for our weekly run and social - a great (free!) way to meet new people! We meet at 7pm outside The Horatia ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/p1QnyurFQh3gywov6) and head for the run together from there. You can leave a small bag or extra layer at the pub at your own risk. The winter route is around Highbury Fields and in the summer we do a loop to Clissold Park, both ending at the starting point- the Horatia pub. We run 5km at an easy pace (about 6-7 mins per km), with some people going faster and some slower. After the run, we will head to the Horatia pub for some drinks (alcoholic and soft are fine- no judgment!).

**📍Address - Motorway, 12 Wells Mews, London, W1T 3HE** After a short break for March we're back at the end of April with 2 of London's well known tech names, Motorway and Omnea! Join us, \*\*[London.js,**](http://london.js,%2A%2A/) on **Thursday 30th April** from **6pm-8.30pm** hosted at **Motorway**, sponsored by **Omnea** 📣 Register now to avoid disappointment as [London.js](http://london.js/) access is limited and spaces fill fast! Doors open at 6:00pm, talks will start at 6:30pm, ends 8.30pm ish. 📍Address - Motorway, 12 Wells Mews, London W1T 3HE 🎤 **Our** **April Talks** 🎤 **Ed Cooper – Senior Engineer, Omnea** **How to Tame Your AI Feature** *"Shipping an AI feature that demos well is easy; shipping one enterprise users trust with six-figure decisions is another story. Ed will walk through the levers they pulled to get two AI features from "it works" to "we trust it" at Omnea — with some surprising learnings along the way"* **Ryan Cormack Principal Engineer & Jamie Toloui Senior Back End Engineer - Motorway** **APIs in the Fastlane - How Motorway are building new, and evolving existing APIs with a design first approach** *"Learn how Motorway are building new, and evolving existing, APIs across their entire platform. They follow a design first approach ensuring our documentation, SDKs and implementation are always kept in sync by leveraging Smithy to document our entire system. We'll look at real world examples of APIs handling millions of requests in a well documented, defined and type safe way so it always does exactly what it says on the tin."* **Johannes Stein - Head of Engineering & CTO** **What I've learned building a JavaScript engine with AI** "What if we create a JavaScript engine without the bloat of backward compatibility? Focusing on modern language features such as let/const, arrow functions, zero dynamic code execution and TypeScript compatibility. This talk covers the journey of creating a new JavaScript engine and runtime, detailing what went well and the lessons learned along the way." **Our Hosts** **🚗 Motorway 🚗** Motorway is transforming the used car market through a data-driven digital marketplace that connects private sellers with thousands of dealers, enabling instant valuations and competitive bidding. Join us in their amazing HQ in central London (off Oxford Street) **Our sponsor** 🚀 **Omnea** 🚀 One of London's fastest growing series B backed start ups. Omnea is rebuilding procurement from the ground up with an AI powered platform that orchestrates workflows across finance, legal and IT, automating intake, approvals and supplier onboarding while creating a unified source of truth for spend. Come to **London.JS** & learn more about the changing face of JavaScript across all industry landscapes. We're a very inclusive meet-up representing a diverse community of awesome engineers 🤖🌈🦄 About the **London.JS** organisers... **James McLeod**, Open Source Program Lead, NatWest Group [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmcleod/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmcleod/) **Jordan Potts**, Head of Technology, Albany Growth [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-potts-albany/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-potts-sr2/) **Will Laing**, Co-Founder, Plan:it [https://www.linkedin.com/in/willhlaing/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/willhlaing/) [https://weareplanit.com/](http://www.weareplanit.com/) *🍕🥤 **Refreshments*** * A variety of food & drink will be served. We will endeavour to cater for allergies & dietary requirements. This won't just be pizza & beer either... ***Things to note*** * A desire to explore JavaScript from different points of view is absolutely recommended * Feel free to bring your JS projects along * All engineering levels are welcome * Please RSVP to secure a place * Please ask plus 1's to sign up to the group & RSVP * Spaces are limited so techies will get priority \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- • Code of conduct: [http://confcodeofconduct.com](https://confcodeofconduct.com/) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-

Join the Prime Time Over 50s Social Group for a chilled out evening Following the success of our previous events, like the lively gathering at Oxford Circus, we would like to invite you to an evening that is perfect for mingling with like-minded individuals and making new friends and social connections. As you are aware this is a wetherspoons, so prices will be very reasonable

Men Connect are hosting an **ongoing, weekly men’s talking group** at **The Couch** in Peckham, providing a space for men to explore life, fatherhood, relationships, and personal growth with honesty and reflection. Many men avoid talking about their inner lives because it’s seen as a weakness. Yet understanding yourself and gaining emotional clarity is a real form of strength. This group isn’t about “fixing problems” — it’s about **noticing patterns, creating change and connecting in ways that help us thrive**. You don’t need prior group experience; most men begin feeling uncertain. We meet you with authenticity and offer **space to explore things on your own terms**. **Facilitators:** * Nicholas and Joseph, professional psychotherapists specialising in men’s wellbeing and relational group work * Sessions are **contained, supportive, and grounded in psychodynamic principles** **Group details:** * **Ongoing weekly sessions**, 90 minutes each * **Small groups** to ensure meaningful discussion and personal attention * **Cost:** £40 per session. The first payment secures your place, with subsequent sessions invoiced monthly. This structure supports continuity and depth within the group. * Focus: fatherhood, relationships, life transitions, and personal growth This group is open to **new and expectant fathers**, as well as **any man navigating life changes, stress, or personal development.** Through conversation and shared exercises, participants can gain insight, clarity, and a stronger sense of purpose. #MensGroupLondon #Peckham #SE15 #MenConnect #MensMentalHealth #TherapyGroup #EmotionalHealth #StressSupport #MensCircle #FatherhoodSupport

We will be playing Rounders in Hydr Park. Please bring a bat and ball if you have them. Min attendance: 11 If the min attendance isnt met the event will be cancelled. See you there.

**Join us on *Discord* to keep updated!** **[(Click me! Online Offline Discord)](https://discord.gg/uuwybw93kj)** Join us in Hyde Park for a free football game! This is an open level (beginner to advanced) free football session for those that wish to have a fun, friendly & non-competitive kick about! Please make sure to bring necessary equipment i.e an extra football if you have one, correct footwear and clothing etc If you have any disabilities or medical needs please check with a professional beforehand! Min attendance: 7 If the min attendance isnt met the event will be cancelled. See you on the pitch!

Join OutdoorLads weekly Saturday bouldering morning event at Vauxwall West - please check our main event page on our website (link in the comments below). We welcome all members of the LGBTQ+ community, and you will be socialising with a supportive group boulderers who are always happy to introduce complete beginners to the sport or solve difficult bouldering problems together. This event is for members of all levels of experience and all are welcome to come along to any of the sessions. Bouldering is unique. There are few sports out there that offer a mental and physical challenge no matter what skill level you are at. Each route consists of several holds that the climber uses, focusing on problem-solving and technical movements to help them reach the top. No two routes are ever the same, and the colour-coded system indicates the difficulty level, so there's a climb for everyone to enjoy! If you have never tried bouldering before, please ensure that you have gone through the centre's safety and induction video beforehand (https://londonclimbingcentres.co.uk/pre-register/) as you will be required to answer a few safety questions when registering at the centre.

**Beginner Friendly Mixed Gender Football** A friendly mixed gender football game in Regents Park. Equipment such as balls, goals and bibs will be provided. This is a beginners only game. We aim to have roughly equal numbers of men and women for each game. This is the **Mens Signup Page**. Please check the [meetup page](https://www.meetup.com/socialsportsmix/) page for the Womens Sign up Page. We also welcome non-binary and other genders to join us. **Can't put yourself down as attending or on the waitlist?** Our mixed football games are usually oversubscribed for men and so we only guarantee places for: **1\. Those who are able to bring a woman or non binary player** Please message the organiser if you can are interested in attending and can bring a woman player. We encourage couples in particular as it's a great activity for you to do together. **2\. Those who donate to our supported charity** We also currently offer 3 special invitations per event for those who are happy to donate a minimum of £5 to our supported charity. We would like our events to raise awareness and money for worthwhile charities. For more info, please visit: [https://www.justgiving.com/page/social-sports-mix-warchild](https://www.justgiving.com/page/social-sports-mix-warchild) Please get in touch with the organiser if you're interested in a charity place. We are strict in our aim in getting equal numbers and men and women for each game. We also have limits to the number of people we can accommodate. **If you turn up without invitation, you might not be able to participate.** **How it works** We meet at the venue to organise teams and for everyone to get to know each other. Here is where we meet: [https://www.socialsportsmix.co.uk/regents-park-football-and-rounders](https://www.socialsportsmix.co.uk/regents-park-football-and-rounders) This is a friendly game, no hard tackles or aggression! We will play for 60-90 minutes depending on how we all feel. You can leave early if you need to. If there is no Goalkeepers, players who are willing to go in goal will rotate every 8 mins. We recommend you bring shinpads and water. Here are our Terms and conditions [http://www.socialsportsmix.co.uk/terms-and-conditions](http://www.socialsportsmix.co.uk/terms-and-conditions)

Join us at for this Saturday between 11am-2.30pm at Pastures Youth and Sports Centre for a fun and social badminton over four courts. Nearest station is Leytonstone station on central line or Leytonstone High Street on overground. If you drive, you can park on street nearby (free on Saturday). Please make sure to bring your own kit and racket. It is £12 per person for 3.5 hours. We play with quality feather shuttlecocks. RSVP is now open on meetup. Once RSVP, please make payment to secure your spot. Any payment please make to: Monzo Name: Ba Quan Le Account number: 30719150 Sort code: 04-00-04 Important note: Our club is paid for by individuals; as such your attendance and payment is required when making a commitments to play - as a matter of respect, please ensure that you consider this when saying you will attend. **Booking rule: Please make sure once you rsvp to pay by the end of same day to secure your spot. In the event of no payment received and we have waitlist, your spot will be cancelled and given to the first person in the waitlist.** **No-shows and late cancellations will be fined: £6 for the first time, full fee for the second time and complete ban for the third time. Fines payable at the next session. Cancellations within 18 hours before session starts will be counted as late cancellations (We appreciate that things could change beyond control (due to injury, illness or transport issues), but unfortunately the club doesn't have resources to manage individual demands or changing circumstances. Keep it simple. Please book only when you are certain or willing to bear the risk of your own changes if you wish to book well in advance to secure your place).**

**The idea for this group is to build a community where men can gather together and build connections & learn and grow from each other.** How we start each meeting is by each of us checking in with our "roses and thorns" aka what are the good things and the bad things going on in your life recently? Then we will go into a topic discussion. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS** \*\*THERE WILL BE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR NO-SHOWS. IF YOU RSVP TO A MEETING AND FAIL TO SHOW UP WITHOUT NOTICE, YOU'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE GROUP. THIS IS TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE GROUP\*\* 1. Confidentiality - EVERYTHING that is shared NEVER leaves this space so that this space remains safe and sacred. There is a zero tolerance policy for this. If a man is in violation of this, they will be permanently removed from the group. 2. Non-Judgement - we respect and honor every man’s truth so that we may receive the same from others. While we may not agree on everything, we commit to respecting every man’s perspectives and engaging in honorable discussion with one another. 3. Be committed - honor your commitment to this group and to yourself. If you attend a meeting, please commit yourself fully to the meeting. Also be committed to your own journey. When we fail, we own it & clean it up. 4. Speak from the heart - this is NOT a space to “look good”, have the “right” answers, and have it all together. Relax and know you are not alone. Be exactly who you are within the safety of this space. 5. Be supportive - This means always willing to provide encouragement to your fellow men, encourage action and momentum in each other’s lives.. Be willing to challenge each other. Be willing to hold each other accountable. 6. Participation - what you receive from this community will be a reflection of what you put into it. Period. We ask that you share your perspectives, reflect on others, and give/receive support when and where it’s needed.

**💥 Join us THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday!** **💥 At Columbus’ Hottest New Salsa Venue!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday! 8 pm – 1 am **.** **💥 Gorgeously Renovated Studio!** **💥 Free Parking!** **💥 BYOB!** **💥 Easy Access from Highway!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa 1717 Brice Rd Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43215 **.** **ENTRANCE IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING** **Behind Anthony’s Pharmacy!** **.** **PLEASE SHARE and help get the word out!** **.** **🟣 Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!** **.** **🟣** 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm **𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻** **.** **🟣** 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm **𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 Class!** **.** **🟣** 9:30 pm – 1 am **𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆!** **.** **✅ Questions?** **Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/)** Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 **.** **✅ No Experience Necessary!** **✅ No Partner Required!** **✅ Plenty of People to Dance With!** **.** **✅ $15 Cash / $16 Card** **✅ College Students $5 Off with Valid ID!** **✅ BYOB** **✅ Age 18+** **.** **✅ Lincoln Street Salsa is the perfect place for…** **.** **👉 Learning to Dance** **👉** Social Dancing **👉 Birthday Celebration** **👉** Bachelorette Parties **👉 Girl’s Night Out** **👉 Date Night** **👉** Getting Fit / Burning Calories **👉 Meeting New People** **👉** Having Fun, Fun, Fun! **.** ✅ **Questions?** Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/ "https://columbussalsadancing.com/") Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 .

Who’s up for a fun night out? Get your boots on, grab your cowboy hat, and let’s have some fun! Thinking about checking out PBR Cowboy Bar & Smokehouse for a lively evening to unwind, connect, and enjoy the night together. • Lively atmosphere with country vibes • Delicious food + drinks • Music, dancing, and lots of laughs • Great conversation and new connections

We practice, dance, and enjoy a BYOB bottle of your favorite wine at the Dublin Ballroom off Sawmill, North, and “milonga” is a social event for tango dancing where dancers socialize. A “*practica*” is an informal social event for tango dancing where dancers focus on practicing the dance; while a “*practilonga*” combines the relaxed atmosphere of a “*practica*” with the format of a “milonga.” We are doing it all! ***Cost is $10 payable to the Teacher.*** *Cost is for the cost of the venue and covers some snacks.* We have had fun doing this event in the past. Please arrive promptly as lessons begin at 2pm. Don't worry about bringing a partner as there will be others at the event from outside the group that: a) might have a clue and b) won't step on your toes. The event is BYOB (similar to our Salsa events), so bring your favorite and a wine glass. We will likely find a place for dinner and drinks after the dance.

Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.