December is a strange month for many men. Some people treat it like one long celebration, but for many blokes it feels more like limbo. Routines disappear, work slows down or goes into chaos, and you are expected to switch into festive mode whether your head is ready or not. The truth is, plenty of men do not enjoy this time of year. Some feel isolated. Some feel pressure to put on a smile. Some just feel flat and worn out. This is exactly why The MANUP? Hour exists.

These one-hour sessions are not therapy. There is no professional running it, no structure, and no expectation for you to talk. It is simply a space for men to log in, have a chat if they want to, or sit back and listen if that is all they feel up to. Real blokes, real headspace, nothing polished. Think of it as a breather. An excuse to step away from the noise and sit with lads who understand what it feels like when life gets heavy.

During December, our normal therapy style groups drop in numbers, so rather than waste money on sessions that men cannot commit to, we are filling the gap in a way that still keeps men connected. That connection matters. When everything else shuts down for Christmas, problems often feel bigger. You can easily end up in your own head for too long. So we show up, even when services around the country go into hibernation.

There is no topic for the evening. You can talk about whatever you like. Work stress. Family tension. Feeling tired of pretending it is all fine. Or you can stay completely silent, which is just as acceptable. A lot of men only realise how much they needed it after the hour ends.

No pressure. No judgement. No fixing. Just an hour carved out for you, at a time of year when most men quietly struggle through it alone.