A growing community. Plenty still to come.

Journey so far

Space started in Sunderland with one idea. Give men somewhere to go, people around them and something to build on.

Since then, more men, businesses, researchers and communities have become part of the story.

2018

Where it all began

Space began with James Fildes.

James had spent more than a decade living with depression and knew how isolating life could become. At his lowest point, he came close to losing his life.

He wanted other men to have somewhere to go, people around them to give them hope and a chance to talk before everything became too much.

That became the first idea for Space. Bring men together, give them something to take part in and build the community James had needed.

2022

Four years after the first idea, Space opened its first group. This picture is that very night. THe night 8 men came together to talk, listen and spend time with others who understood them.
(We didn’t expect to need more chairs).

Later that year, a World Mental Health Day collaboration with Sunderland AFC and Vertu Motors pushed Space to an even wider audience. A video featuring Sunderland AFC player Corry Evans introduced more men across the region to Space, showing more people different ways they could get involved.

See video

2023

More than 60 people joined Kevin Ball for Space’s first big walk. The impressive eight-mile route ran from 1st Cloud Arena to the Stadium of Light, where the group stepped onto the pitch at half-time.

Later that year, Space celebrated being named Social Enterprise of the Year!

2024

The first big walk had started something. In March, walking became a regular part of the weekend, giving men a reason to get outside and spend time together along Roker and Seaburn.

In October, the coffee van hit the road, taking proper coffee on wheels into workplaces and events. It created a new way to fund Space’s work with men.

2025

Space began its podcast, with it our first university partnership, bringing community experience and academic research together.

Space just kept getting more popular. By July, activities and services were running across six days of the week, giving men more ways to reach out and take part.