One Yarn at a Time (Matthew Steans)

Matthew Steans founded The Yarns Men after witnessing suicide and losing a friend to it 13 years ago. Initially working in corporate treasury, he developed suicide prevention technology in the UK before returning to New Zealand to focus on creating opportunities for meaningful conversations between men.

The charity operates through three tiers: community awareness events, monthly in-person gatherings with guest speakers, and social prescribing - where medical professionals can refer patients for non-clinical interventions through good conversations.

Matthew's ambitious goal is to connect with every working-age male in Christchurch (around 110,000 people) over 2-3 years. The organisation focuses on data-driven approaches and is developing a social health index with Research First to measure impact.

The Yarns Men hosts monthly events at a pub in Manchester Street, featuring speakers sharing personal stories. Matthew also runs a podcast to reach introverted men who might find in-person events daunting.

The charity emphasises authentic, non-judgmental conversation using carefully chosen language that resonates with working men. Matthew's vision is to create a sustainable organisation that improves men's social health while reducing suicide rates through meaningful connection.

Current projects include developing a "yarn mobile" - a motorcycle with sidecar and coffee machine - to facilitate conversations in different settings. The organisation is piloting social prescribing with Pegasus House and four medical centres in St Martins.