GMFA, the gay men's health charity, are to run their Friendships Course in Brighton on October 24 and in other cities nationally.

Friendships are the main source of support and advice for lots of gay men and can have a huge impact on how they feel about themselves. For gay men, it can be difficult to build friendships outside the social scenes they are involved in and get the support they want. In response, GMFA is running a free one-day course in 13 cities across the UK this October to help men understand what they want and need from their friendships.

Matthew Hodson, Head of Programmes at GMFA, said:
“This course is not about how to make friends. Everyone has those basic skills. This is about using and building on those skills and understanding your friendship needs. Once you know what you want, it’s easier to decide whether that is what you are getting – and if not, what to do about it.”

The course will help gay men explore the many different aspects of gay friendships in a fun, non-judgmental way. This includes the practical skills of friendship, such as how to ask the right questions. It also covers the different forms of friendships, such as fuck buddies – and, if sex does happen, how to keep it safe.

Matthew adds:
“This course has already proved popular when we ran it in London. One man who attended described it perfectly when he said it helped him ‘flex his friendship muscles’. We hope that those who come along will leave with a better understanding of their friendships and a happier, more confident outlook on how to take them forward.”

All of GMFA’s courses and workshops are free of charge to participants but places are limited and must be booked in advance. To book a place, and to get details of the course in other cities, view:
www.gmfa.org.uk/national or call 020 7738 3712.

Pictured: Matthew Hodson