Open Group for Punjabi Men: Our Relationship with Alcohol, Alpha Works, Birmingham, 27 September 2023

This group is a part of the Cha in the City movement, supporting inclusive conversations around challenging subjects amongst Punjabi men.
About this Event

What is this group about?

The Heera Foundation is a charity aiming to narrow the gap between psychological support & education, and its' accessibility. We believe that one of the key avenues towards positive mental health is through conversation and connection. Therefore, we started open groups for Punjabi communities to connect and discuss on topics we don't usually talk about!

This is an open group for those who identify as Punjabi men to engage in a discussion with others around a particular topic, to listen, learn, and share. We welcome Punjabis from all faith backgrounds – Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, other faiths, spiritualities, and those who practice no faith or are agonistic. We welcome all Punjabi men, whether you do or don’t consume alcohol :)

In this session we will reflect upon our relationship with alcohol and how this is impacted by being a Punjabi male. We will consider the following questions:

- What are our relationships with alcohol? How do we describe the way in which Punjabi communities relate to alcohol?

- How much of a part do you believe alcohol plays in the identity of a Punjabi male?

- What impact does this have and what can be done to tackle some of these challenges?

- Has anyone personally been affected by alcohol and would like to share about it?

Who is this for?

This event welcomes all cis and trans men, as well as non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of men who identify as Punjabi - of all faiths or indeed no faith. It's an open and safe space for those that want to share their thoughts or simply listen and connect.

What to expect?

Each month we will focus on a particular topic of importance and relevance. We provide a safe space to both listen or share. Our format usually involves:

- Introductions and Group Responsibilities

- Short Grounding Exercise

- Breakout Discussions

- Large Group Discussion

- Group Feedback and Ending

Thoughts can be shared, questions asked, or you can simply listen – there is no obligation to share your experiences, should you choose not to. Anonymous feedback is always encouraged at the end of the session, so we can continuously improve the group sessions.

If you want to, you can read a blog about what it's like to attend a Cha in the City open group here