Reconnecting Men and Their Place through the spirit of community
Reconnecting People and Place using the Sociable Spirit of Community
‘What Mike and the Lads have done’, (walking and singing The Cleveland Way), ‘will have saved more lives in 10 days than I have done in over 30 years of cancer surgery’
J Fergusson, North East Cancer Lead
Mike is renowned for delivering large scale community engagement and well-being projects in Teesside and the Northeast – combining his musicking, storytelling, creativity and experience in formal education to inspire people – changing places and even saving lives on the way.
In Spring 2026, following the incredible response to Blind Tiger’s Infant Hercules Choir of men performing on BBC1’s Big Night of Musicals (Skip to 1hr 5 mins) we decided to consolidate what we do – still with the aim to make a positive impact on communities, but specifically to focus on the well-being, health and sense of belonging and purpose of men and boys.
Our website is still in a consequent state of re-development, but Blind Tiger are pushing forwards to enable more men on a regional and national level to become part of our movement.
Blind Tiger focuses on 3 main senses...
Sense of Voice
Sense of Purpose
Sense of Place…
Infant Hercules is our ‘Free & Easy’ Choir inspired by social club singing of the 19th century.
Over 100 men, (and growing each week) sing their hearts out and raise awareness of issues and stories that matter to men. We are starting to reach out to other men’s choirs and groups for ‘one-off’ awareness raising performances and inistiatives that can amplify men’s health awareness.
The Pals were inspired by the Pals Battalions of WW1 when groups of friends fought the common enemy with raised morale and connection.
The Pals tackles the ‘enemy’ of mental health problems / suicide by enabling men to feel they have a purpose. We designed the programme using the 5 themes of well-being provided by Public Health England:
CONNECTING
A Pals group should be based in a Pub or a Social Club with a strong sense of community, (particularly of men). It was described as ‘The Women’s Institute for Men BY members of the women’s institute!
BEING MORE ACTIVE
Pals design and walk Pals Infinite Footsteps Walks - creating a National Trail of walks that have been mapped / co-created to tell the story of men in their local areas.
RAISING AWARENESS
Pals are the community champions of The Samaritans and the 116123 number. We want to create Pals network who can get their messaging into grass routes places such as pubs, town centres and the wider community.
ALWAYS LEARNING
Pals have a recognisable link with Schools and Colleges eg. our Yarm School Memento dementia friendly events or our Riveting Connections Assemblies - and use that intergenerational relationship to provide role modelling to young people – particularly boys.
GIVING BACK
Every Pals group identifies the skills within its local group and develop ‘social enterprise’ / community projects that align with those skills and the aspirations of the group. pop up Pubs in residential homes; a new literacy project with young refugee dads and cooking projects.
The Pals programme was founded and is firmly established in Stockton-on-Tees but we are now looking to establish more local branches with the aspiration to create a national network of place changing, life saving Pals.
Email to find out how to create your own Pals branch.
Reimagining the forgotten arts of Talking, Listening and Socialising to tell the stories and rebuild the spirit of communities. Walking the walk and talking the talk.
Many Mouths - one voice!
Soon to be re-named ‘The Paradise Club’, inspired the former ironstone mine spaces that were eventually ‘returned to nature’.
Ali Brownlee Social Clubs re-imagine spaces and places as social hubs – those ‘third places’ that allow men to enjoy recreation, education and just ‘be’ – the spaces where conversations happen and where change begins.
We are building on our success in pubs, social clubs and town centres to shift our focus to outside spaces that can be transformed with collective effort and commitment, reconnecting men with their environment and each other.
Creating loud, proud and inclusive Choirs and musicking marching bands that give a voice and a purpose to people through the Free & Easy tradition of Social Clubs and Music Hall.
From singing clubs for the voiceless, to storytelling journeys, to creative school partnerships — we work with local authorities, organisations and grassroots groups to put creativity at the heart of everyday life.
Blind Tiger was founded and is led by community engineer, Teesside University Honorary Fellow and renowned musician Mike McGrother.
With over 30 years of experience working in a variety of community and educational contexts, Mike is available to advise, design and help you deliver the change you want to see in your community.
For an initial informal chat please drop me an Email
Creative, innovative and highly engaging work with children and young people that reminds them that they are not the ‘next’ generation but the here and now.
From full blown musicals to bringing the curriculum alive for pupils and teachers alike!
Combining creative approaches to what we call ‘Community Engineering’ with the rigour and evidence provided by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Teesside University - enabling individuals and organisations to be the proactive catalysts and contribute to the building of a community they want to see.
This generation and the next generation have not had the opportunity to be sociable. Our generation and the last generation are having the doors closed on them. Our meeting places and spaces are being undervalued and lost.
ALL COMMUNITIES CAN CONNECT THROUGH ONE OR MORE…
"No-one wants to listen to my stories - I’m just an old man"
– Joe Hall
"It’s like I’ve found a family again"
– David Otter
"I can talk when I’m walking - because you’re not looking straight at me" – Dave
"Men do talk - but sometimes it’s hard to take the first step"
– Graeme
"We haven’t seen it like this in decades!" – Loftus Club
"A cross between Billy Bragg and Vic & Bob!"
– Wildcats Fan
"You have the rare gift of making everyone in the room feel that their story matters and listened to" – Billingham Catholic Club Attendee
"I feel a part of something instead of apart from everything"
– Diaspora Vocal Collective Refugee Member
"No-one wants to listen to my stories - I’m just an old man"
– Joe Hall
"It’s like I’ve found a family again"
– David Otter
"I can talk when I’m walking - because you’re not looking straight at me" – Dave
"Men do talk - but sometimes it’s hard to take the first step"
– Graeme
"We haven’t seen it like this in decades!" – Loftus Club
"A cross between Billy Bragg and Vic & Bob!"
– Wildcats Fan
"You have the rare gift of making everyone in the room feel that their story matters and listened to" – Billingham Catholic Club Attendee
"I feel a part of something instead of apart from everything"
– Diaspora Vocal Collective Refugee Member
Some of our fantastic partners
