Speakeasy Club Awarded Game Changing £45,561,  Thanks to the Incredible Players of the Postcode Lottery

Speakeasy Club is beyond delighted to announce it has been awarded £45,561 over the next two years, made possible entirely by the brilliant players of the Postcode Lottery. This transformational funding will significantly strengthen our mission to ensure no one feels alone when it comes to their mental health. We are eternally grateful to every single player whose contribution has made this possible.

This support arrives at a time when demand for Speakeasy Club’s work is accelerating far beyond available resources — and it will provide vital stability as we expand, professionalise, and deepen our impact across communities.

Strengthening Foundations During Rapid Growth

Speakeasy Club’s flagship initiative, the Speakeasy Bench, launched with a goal of 10 benches. In the first year alone, 21 benches were installed. Two years on, that number has now grown to 61, with each bench or barrel placed in a sports venue, café, workplace, or community hub, linking people to free mental health resources through a simple QR code — sparking curiosity and conversations that save lives.

This growth reflects the need, but has created significant pressure without core funding. The £45,561 grant from the Postcode Community Trust Wales and players of the Postcode Lottery allows Speakeasy Club to strengthen its foundations, scale responsibly, and meet demand sustainably.

Founder Simon Clarke said:

“This funding doesn’t just help us grow — it gives us foundations. The players of the Postcode Lottery are helping us build a future where no one has to struggle alone, and we are eternally grateful. Without them, we simply couldn’t reach as many people as quickly or as safely as we need to. To think about where Soeakeasy all began, and the people who have selflessly helped us along the way, it’s incredibly overwhelming to have been awarded such funding, but this support and encouragement mean the world and allow us to take the much-needed next step on our journey. Want to find out more? We’ll meet you at the bench ”

The grant lands as Speakeasy Club CIC looks to strengthen its organisational governance and expand its board from four to eight members following a skills-based review.  Alongside a new reserves policy — crucial for long-term sustainability — these activities will be finalised by Spring.

A Catalyst for Greater Reach, Better Evidence, and Systemic Change

Thanks to the players of the Postcode Lottery, Speakeasy Club will now:

  • Increase its reach, placing more benches and mental health touchpoints in community and professional sports venues. Working with world-renowned organisations such as Gilbert Rugby and more.
  • Collaborate with higher education institutions to produce evidence-based reports that will change the game in mental health, proving why community sports venues are essential to wellbeing.
  • Expand impact measurement, ensuring activity is backed by strong data and supported by a sustainable strategy.
  • Continue developing digital tools, including the forthcoming “Pal in Your Pocket” mental health support app.
  • Drive forward sector-leading campaigns,such as ‘8’ For a Mate, a major men’s mental health initiative planned for May 2026.

This funding empowers Speakeasy Club to move from fast-growing grassroots impact to a more resilient, research-led, and influential community mental health organisation.

Real, Measurable Impact

Speakeasy Club’s work has already led to powerful change:

  • 61 benches and barrels installed
  • 1,310+ QR code scans to online mental health resources
  • 3,240+ people engaged through events and campaigns
  • £23,000+ raised for community clubs
  • 1,400+ podcast listens
  • And at least one life saved — that we know of

The new Postcode Lottery funding will accelerate this impact, ensuring more conversations happen, more connections are made, and more people receive support at the moment they need it most.

The one aspect Speakeasy Club requires more than anything is time. Whilst this funding won’t solve this key problem entirely, it will go a long way to helping it. 

A Movement Built on Connection, Curiosity, and Community

Speakeasy Club’s mission is to make talking about mental health a normal, everyday part of life — especially for men and the communities around them. Founder Simon Clarke brings lived experience and 25 years in community sport; ambassadors like Joe Ledley, Dai Flanagan, Shaun Edwards, and Gwen Crabb help reach audiences who may not otherwise hear messages around mental health and the power of being part of something. 

With the support of the players of the Postcode Lottery, this movement is now stronger, more sustainable, and ready to reach even more people.