Walking Home to Home, Charlton’s Journey for Mental Health and Community

On 12th June, our colleague Charlton Blackwell will begin an extraordinary challenge: walking 192 miles across England in just 14 days, carrying only a tent and a backpack.

Starting in St Bees on the west coast and finishing in Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast, this journey is about much more than covering the miles. It is a walk with purpose, raising funds for two Community Interest Companies that are deeply committed to supporting mental wellbeing within their communities: INTRSPCT COLLECTIVE in Manchester and ourselves NW Counselling Hub in Lincoln.

For Charlton, this challenge is personal.

As a practising counsellor for the past nine years, therapy has been a significant part of his own life since childhood. Through different stages of life, counselling has provided him with support, understanding and healing. Those experiences helped shape his passion for mental health and his commitment to supporting others on their own journeys.

Reflecting on the challenge, Charlton shares a powerful belief:

“So many of us have experienced pain and suffering, yet so few of us get the opportunity to heal from it.”

It is this belief that sits at the heart of his fundraising mission.

Supporting Communities Through Connection and Care

The organisations Charlton has chosen to support are both rooted in community and dedicated to improving mental wellbeing in different but equally important ways.

Here at NW Counselling Hub, we work to bridge the gap in access to professional mental health support and provide counselling services for children, young people, adults, couples, families and businesses. Alongside therapy, we have developed projects that tackle loneliness, support those affected by cancer, create opportunities for connection and provide education around important mental health topics.

The second organisation, INTRSPCT COLLECTIVE, is a Manchester-based men’s mental health movement focused on building community through shared experiences. Through activities such as hiking, football, running, racket sports and bouldering, they create opportunities for meaningful conversations and genuine connection. Their ethos is simple but powerful:

“You belong here, at your own pace.”

Why This Matters

Mental health support does not always begin in a counselling room.

Sometimes it starts with a conversation. A sense of belonging. A supportive community. A safe place to be heard.

Both NW Counselling Hub and INTRSPCT COLLECTIVE are committed to creating these opportunities, helping people access support, build resilience and improve their wellbeing.

Charlton’s walk represents more than a journey across the country. It represents the belief that healing is possible, that communities matter, and that we all have a role to play in creating healthier futures for the generations that follow us.

How You Can Help

Charlton hopes that any funds raised will be shared equally between both organisations, helping them continue delivering vital support and community projects.

Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference. If you’re unable to contribute financially, simply sharing the campaign can help spread the message and reach more people.

To support Charlton’s fundraising challenge, please visit:

👉 Donate via GoFundMe

Together, we can help ensure that mental health support remains accessible, community-focused and available to those who need it most.

Because together, we really are stronger.