Support Mandem on the Mat: A Wellness Retreat for Black Men

Join us in empowering black men in the UK by funding a life-changing weekend retreat dedicated to enhancing their mental, physical, and emotional well-being!

We’re proud to launch Mandem on the Mat Retreat, a weekend retreat created to provide a safe, culturally relevant space for Black men in the UK to heal, connect, and thrive.

Our retreat will combine immersive yoga practices, guided meditation, sound healing, and wellness workshops to empower Black men to explore their mind, body, and spirit.

Through this retreat, we aim to reduce the mental health disparities facing Black men, promote self-love and self-respect, and create a powerful community of brothers who support each other in their wellness journeys.

Why We Need Your Help

To make this retreat accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances, we need support from our community to be able to:

How You Can Contribute

We’ve created a donation menu to make it easy for you to support:

Any amount that feels right to you.

£25: Cover half the cost of one session for the group

£50: Cover the cost of one session for the group

£122.50: Sponsor a quarter of the retreat costs for one participant.

£245: Sponsor half the retreat costs for one participant.

£490: Fully fund a life-changing retreat experience for one participant.

You can also contribute any amount that feels right to you. All donations are appreciated and we know that all amounts, however little, will add up and help us to make this happen for our community.

Other Ways to Support

We are also seeking product sponsors, supplies sponsors, and corporate sponsorships. Please email us at [email redacted] for our corporate sponsorship pack.

Who are we, our mission and Why We Are Running This Retreat

Mandem On The Mat, is a CIC that serves Black men of African and Caribbean heritage, including those of mixed ancestry.

Black men in the UK face unique and complex challenges that significantly impact their well-being. These challenges often show up at work in the form of disproportionate underrepresentation in senior and leadership roles, unconscious bias, systemic barriers in promotions. Black men in the UK face unique and compounded challenges when it comes to toxic or dysfunctional relationships. Societal stigma, racial stereotypes, and cultural barriers significantly hinder their ability to seek support and address abusive dynamics.

Microaggressions experienced by Black men in the UK have a significant impact on their mental health, social interactions, and career outcomes. They are pervasive across workplaces, schools, public spaces, and online environments. These subtle but harmful experiences often go unaddressed and accumulate over time, contributing to a broader sense of alienation, stress, and marginalisation.

Research from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities shows that Black men experience higher levels of psychological distress and poorer physical health compared to other groups. Mental health stigma, underrepresentation in wellness spaces, and systemic inequality exacerbate these issues.

At Mandem on the Mat, we recognise that healing must happen in a safe, culturally relevant environment. This retreat is designed to address these disparities by providing tools to reduce stress, build self-confidence, and foster a powerful sense of community.

This retreat is a collaboration with Ubuntu Spirit, whose mission is to promote diversity, inclusion, and financial accessibility in wellness. Ubuntu Spirit creates retreats and community events that bring people together to share transformative experiences. Their expertise and shared mission make them the perfect partner for Mandem on the Mat as we work to make wellness accessible and impactful for Black men in the UK.

Every Contribution Matters

By supporting this retreat, you’ll help:

Together, we can create a brighter future for Black men in the UK. Thank you for being part of this transformative journey.