In September 2026, MAN v FAT headed to the Houses of Parliament to celebrate the community losing over 1,000,000lbs of excess weight since we got started in 2016.
That huge total is reflective of the hard work put in by men up and down the country to change their lives, but also the support and guidance provided by coaches and partners of the programme.
One of MAN v FAT’s most supportive partners is the Newcastle United Foundation, who support us to deliver the Newcastle and North Tyneside clubs.
We caught up with Ellen Bullock, Senior Project Officer – Adult Health & Wellbeing at the Foundation, to find out why MAN v FAT is such an important part of their offering in the North East.
How proud are you of your part in MAN v FAT reaching this momentous landmark?
Hitting one million pounds lost is a huge milestone! Just think about how many men’s lives will have been changed as a result of MAN v FAT! I love the programme and I am really proud to play a small part in helping to change the lives of the men involved.
Why do you think MAN v FAT works so well for guys looking to make health improvements?
Being a male only programme which gives men access to the sport they love whilst also giving them a supportive environment works really well. Combine that with passionate staff who really get to know the participants and you are onto a winner.
What has been the highlight of the Foundation’s involvement with MAN v FAT?
There have been plenty of highlights, but I will have to say watching people working hard to hit a target weight and seeing the hard work pay off when they achieve it. Winning Partner of the Year in 2024 is also up there, it was a huge surprise and it has motivated us to see how far the programme can go!
What are your future plans for your delivery of MAN v FAT?
I would love to see both the Newcastle and North Tyneside clubs expand further and see the players achieve more weight loss targets. We recently achieved a new session record weight loss of 37.8kg and I would like to see us break that record again. I would like to see MAN v FAT expand into Northumberland and would like to support with that expansion into a new club.
Want to get involved?
You can register today for the Newcastle or North Tyneside clubs on the MAN v FAT website. Want to find out more about us hitting 1,000,000lbs lost? Take a look at our special celebration page!
And want to learn about the Newcastle United Foundation’s work? Visit their website to take a look.
