Powys Men’s Circle
an interview with Scott Mcgregor
I met up with Scott Mcgregor, a founder of Powys Men’s Circle the following information aims to explain a little about what a men’s circle is and what men can expect when they go along to a session.
Powys Men’s Circle is a community-based initiative supporting men’s mental health and emotional wellbeing through facilitated talking circles, peer connection, and practical community projects.
Founded by Scott McGregor, Ben Webb, Chris Owen, and Jimi Love, the circle has been running for over seven years, creating spaces for men to connect openly, honestly, and without judgment.
This summer, Powys Men’s Circle is offering four evening talking circles open to all men at Create Play. The sessions are held in a safe, accessible venue, helping reduce barriers to participation and making it easier for men from across the area to attend.
The circles are structured to support men in:
- Developing emotional intelligence
- Speaking openly about their lives and challenges
- Listening deeply to others without interruption or judgment
Many men grow up without spaces where they can speak honestly about stress, relationships, loneliness, grief, fatherhood, work pressures, or mental health struggles. As a result, problems are often carried alone until they reach crisis point. Talking groups help break that isolation by giving men a place where they can be heard, understood, and supported by others with shared life experiences.
The circles also help men build confidence in communication, deepen relationships, and develop stronger emotional resilience. Participants often report feeling less alone, calmer, and more connected after attending.
Using clear agreements and skilled facilitation, the circles create an environment where men can speak honestly and feel genuinely heard. Participants are encouraged to:
- Speak from personal experience using “I” statements
- Listen without interruption
- Create space for every voice
The talking circles complement traditional mental health services. While therapy and GP support remain important, many men struggle to open up in formal settings. Peer-based circles can provide an earlier, more accessible form of support that helps reduce isolation and encourages emotional resilience before challenges escalate.
Feedback from previous sessions highlights the impact of the work:
“I had a past experience of feeling not listened to in a men’s circle, and this experience felt nothing like that. Thanks to the facilitator’s way of holding the space, people really paid attention — and that made all the difference. I’ll definitely come again.” – C.H.
Alongside the talking circles, Powys Men’s Circle also hosts community build events in partnership with Llanafan Fawr Men’s Shed, where volunteers are helping construct a community meeting space with support from a National Lottery Awards for All grant.
By offering early, community-based support through both talking circles and shared practical projects, Powys Men’s Circle aims to strengthen community resilience, reduce loneliness and isolation, and help ease pressure on local GP and statutory mental health services.
During my chat with Scott we talked about the barriers that may be preventing men from coming along to these groups. Perhaps it boils down to a fear of the unknown, being unsure of what to expect or just uncertainty about showing vulnerabilities in front of a group of strangers. To that we would say , just go along and try it, there will be no judgement and no pressure to stay if it really isn’t for you. You have nothing to lose.
If you want to find out more about the Powys Men’s Circle then simply get in touch with Scott who can answer your questions
smcgreg@gmail.com
07910 075219
You can also check out the Powys Men’s Circle Facebook page HERE