The BIG Bench2bench Walk 2026 - Walking Wales
Tuesday 24th February 2026
00:00
Holyhead Hotspur FC, The New Stadium, Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey
The Big Bench2Bench Walk - Walking Wales.
Over 260 miles, 25 community sports club and a whole LOAD of support.
Community sports clubs save lives - sometimes in ways we don’t even see.
They create belonging. They give people purpose. They notice when someone doesn’t show up.
We're walking the length of Wales, from Holyhead Hotspur on Anglesey, to Sully Sports FC on the south coast. We'll pass through 25 community clubs, highlighting just how powerful grassroots sport can be — and making sure every club has free mental health resources to support the people who rely on it.
Walk. Fundraise. Share. - A mile a day. An hour. Or the whole journey.
The Big Bench2Bench Walk is a six-day community challenge raising funds to put free mental health resources into every community sports club in the UK.
We’re walking bench to bench — connecting 25 grassroots clubs and the places where people belong.
Because too many people are sitting on the sidelines, struggling silently. And too many clubs don’t have the tools to support them.
We believe prevention should live where people already show up.
💙 Why We’re Walking
Community sport builds confidence, identity and belonging.
But mental health support at grassroots level is often reactive — only visible when a crisis hits. We’re changing that.
Every step funds free, practical mental health resources for clubs — giving coaches, volunteers and players the confidence to start conversations before things reach breaking point.
At each club we stop at, we'll be leaving with them:
- A bag of Speakeasy rugby balls or footballs. Each with our unique QR code on, with access to free Mental health resources, signposting and support.
- A Speakeasy bench or barrel, with our unique QR code and clubs colours on it to to make it feel part of the club, like we all should feel
- Beer matts/coffee coasters and posters with our QR code on
- Free access to online mental health support, training and education for all coaches, parents and senior players who access the club.
The 6-Day Journey (The exact clubs we'll be supporting along the route TBC)
Each day carries a theme representing a particular item for the kit bag that is vital in improving mens mental health.
Day 1 – The Starting Line
Theme: Self Awareness📍 Route: Holyhead Hotspur FC on Anglesey to Nant Conwy RFC 📏 Distance: Approx 45miles
Day 2 – The Power of Community
Theme: Empathy📍 Route: Nany Conwy RFC to Dollgellau RFC 📏 Distance: Approx 35 Miles
Day 3 – Breaking the Silence
Theme: Challenge📍 Route: Dollgellau RFC to Abersytwyth RFC 📏 Distance: Approx 33 miles
Day 4 – Prevention Over Crisis
Theme: Vulnerability📍 Route: Aberystwyth RFC to Carmarthen Quins RFC 📏 Distance: Approx 45 miles
Day 5 – Stronger Together
Theme: Curiosity📍 Route: Carmarthen Quins to Swansea City, Swansea.com Stadium 📏 Distance: Approx 27miles
Day 6 – The Final Bench (To be confirmed - In partnership with Swansea City FC Foundation and the Cardiff City Foundation)
Theme: Fun📍 Route: Swansea City, Swansea.com Stadium to Sully Sports FC (via Cardiff City Stadium)📏 Distance: Approx 45miles
Total miles: Approx
Total clubs visited: 25 Community clubs
🚶 How to Get Involved
You don’t have to walk all six days. You can:
Join for one stage
Walk a mile
Walk for an hour
Individual Sponsors
Business sponsorship - (Sponsorship packages available 1st April 2026)
Fundraise through your club
Share the mission online and with friends and family.
Every action helps us embed free mental health support into grassroots sport.
🎯 Our Goal
To make free mental health resources a standard part of every community sports club in the UK.
Not optional.Not postcode dependent.Standard.
Walk with us.Fundraise with us.Share the mission.
Because nobody should have to struggle alone on the bench. 💙
Thank you all so much for your support.
Simon Clarke
Founder of Speakeasy Club
The Big Bench2Bench Walk - Walking Wales.
Over 260 miles, 25 community sports club and a whole LOAD of support.
Community sports clubs save lives - sometimes in ways we don’t even see.
They create belonging. They give people purpose. They notice when someone doesn’t show up.
We're walking the length of Wales, from Holyhead Hotspur on Anglesey, to Sully Sports FC on the south coast. We'll pass through 25 community clubs, highlighting just how powerful grassroots sport can be — and making sure every club has free mental health resources to support the people who rely on it.
Walk. Fundraise. Share. - A mile a day. An hour. Or the whole journey.
The Big Bench2Bench Walk is a six-day community challenge raising funds to put free mental health resources into every community sports club in the UK.
We’re walking bench to bench — connecting 25 grassroots clubs and the places where people belong.
Because too many people are sitting on the sidelines, struggling silently. And too many clubs don’t have the tools to support them.
We believe prevention should live where people already show up.
💙 Why We’re Walking
Community sport builds confidence, identity and belonging.
But mental health support at grassroots level is often reactive — only visible when a crisis hits. We’re changing that.
Every step funds free, practical mental health resources for clubs — giving coaches, volunteers and players the confidence to start conversations before things reach breaking point.
At each club we stop at, we'll be leaving with them:
- A bag of Speakeasy rugby balls or footballs. Each with our unique QR code on, with access to free Mental health resources, signposting and support.
- A Speakeasy bench or barrel, with our unique QR code and clubs colours on it to to make it feel part of the club, like we all should feel
- Beer matts/coffee coasters and posters with our QR code on
- Free access to online mental health support, training and education for all coaches, parents and senior players who access the club.
The 6-Day Journey (The exact clubs we'll be supporting along the route TBC)
Each day carries a theme representing a particular item for the kit bag that is vital in improving mens mental health.
Day 1 – The Starting Line
Theme: Self Awareness📍 Route: Holyhead Hotspur FC on Anglesey to Nant Conwy RFC 📏 Distance: Approx 45miles
Day 2 – The Power of Community
Theme: Empathy📍 Route: Nany Conwy RFC to Dollgellau RFC 📏 Distance: Approx 35 Miles
Day 3 – Breaking the Silence
Theme: Challenge📍 Route: Dollgellau RFC to Abersytwyth RFC 📏 Distance: Approx 33 miles
Day 4 – Prevention Over Crisis
Theme: Vulnerability📍 Route: Aberystwyth RFC to Carmarthen Quins RFC 📏 Distance: Approx 45 miles
Day 5 – Stronger Together
Theme: Curiosity📍 Route: Carmarthen Quins to Swansea City, Swansea.com Stadium 📏 Distance: Approx 27miles
Day 6 – The Final Bench (To be confirmed - In partnership with Swansea City FC Foundation and the Cardiff City Foundation)
Theme: Fun📍 Route: Swansea City, Swansea.com Stadium to Sully Sports FC (via Cardiff City Stadium)📏 Distance: Approx 45miles
Total miles: Approx
Total clubs visited: 25 Community clubs
🚶 How to Get Involved
You don’t have to walk all six days. You can:
Join for one stage
Walk a mile
Walk for an hour
Individual Sponsors
Business sponsorship - (Sponsorship packages available 1st April 2026)
Fundraise through your club
Share the mission online and with friends and family.
Every action helps us embed free mental health support into grassroots sport.
🎯 Our Goal
To make free mental health resources a standard part of every community sports club in the UK.
Not optional.Not postcode dependent.Standard.
Walk with us.Fundraise with us.Share the mission.
Because nobody should have to struggle alone on the bench. 💙
Thank you all so much for your support.
Simon Clarke
Founder of Speakeasy Club