Meet Little BIG Host, Alan

by Little BIG

The Summer Hill Safe Space is unavailable until further notice. If you are here seeking Safe Space services please find the alternative services here.

Meet Alan: local Summer Hill community member and Little BIG Host.

Alan was one of the first community members to discover the Little BIG House and propose an idea to support our community—we will be forever grateful that he did! We often joke that we need to roll out a bed for Alan, as he leads several events, is a key member of our Management Committee, and is one of our most dedicated attendees. Whenever there’s a new event, you can be sure Alan is there, supporting the new host and ensuring its success.

Alan has over a decade of experience in financial services before making a life and career pivot. He now combines his professional skills and lived experiences to help others find hope and healing. Alan is the founder of the Safe Space at Summer Hill, the Men’s Supper Club and our Mental Health First-Aid Training at the Little BIG House. He passionately advocated for mental health, men’s wellbeing. And yes, despite living in Australia for a significant portion of his life, his Irish accent remains strong, so don’t hesitate to ask him to slow down if you need to understand him better!

We asked Alan to tell us a bit more about his events and his experience as a Summer Hill local.

1. I’ve been a Summer Hill local since

I moved here amongst the lockdowns of 2020. What a time to find a new home and a new community that was!

2. This community is special to me because

It’s special because I don’t feel anonymous walking around. It has a ‘country-town’ feel to it, very personable. 

3. My favourite thing about the Little BIG House is

The idea and the delivery of a space for the community that is inclusive and open for all. 

4. The event / program I’m running in the Little BIG House is

I run the Safe Space for anyone struggling with suicidal ideation, thoughts, behaviour, chronic loneliness or feeling unsafe with the support of community volunteers on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Safe Space is a warm, welcoming environment open to anyone struggling with chronic loneliness or suicidality – or anyone who is feeling unsafe or in need of peer support. It is also a space for carers friends or colleagues to come and seek help. It is a ‘drop-in’ style where you can reset with guidance from peer support with lived experiences.

I also started the Men’s Space Supper Club. The Supper Club hopes to create a greater sense of belonging, camaraderie and connection amongst local men. It’s healthy to show emotion and share feelings. It helps us connect. Yet for many men their relationships with other blokes is just ‘footy talk’. So we have a rule… not work and no sport chat. Anything else goes. We order a meal together and hang out as mates.

5. I hope this event / program will make participants feel

For the safe space – I hope it helps breaks down the stigma around mental health in the community and see it as a holistic alternative to the emergency room. We want to help with safety planning and our biggest endorsement would be if we were part of of an individuals safety plan. 

For the Supper Club – I hope men feel included, listened to and I hope they have fun!

6. The top thing on my bucket list is

Get a community grant so we can improve the service and train volunteers!

7. I’m most grateful for

The people that stood by me while I was going through my own mental distress. 

8. The last Little BIG thing / action I did for someone else or received from someone was

My work colleagues surprised me with a cake and a present from T2 recently and we went out to celebrate. It was really touching as I normally keep that stuff quiet. 

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The Supper Club has limited numbers. If you are interested in joining, please fill in the application form here.

If you feel vulnerable or in need of a chat, why not join Alan and other caring, supportive members of the community? The Pop-up Safe Space is open on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30pm – 9:00pm. For more information, check out their website.

“The Summer Hill community is very personable. I don't feel anonymous walking around.”

― Alan Earls

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