By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-09 06:06:09 | Updated at 2026-10-09 07:22:51
1 hour ago
A Weymouth man is walking 650 miles across England with a cast-iron postbox on his back to raise money for charity and tackle the "global pandemic" of loneliness.
Stu Skinner MBE, 45, is trekking from Carlisle to Portland Bill in Dorset, passing through Newcastle, Ripon, Leeds, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Gloucester and Bristol.
Speaking to GB News about his journey so far, Mr Skinner said the postbox has been a "Trojan Horse" for sparking conversation with people he has met on his route.
Mr Skinner said: "For me, a postbox is a symbol of community and connection, and because it's also quite ridiculous, when people see me walking with a postbox, it kind of disarms them.
"I call it a Trojan Horse because it kind of lets people's guard down. It invites them in, and because conversation normally starts with a bit of a giggle, I think it makes people more open to talking about something that perhaps they'd be a bit more reserved and guarded about."
Having won the postbox at a charity auction, Mr Skinner revealed the idea came to him at a particularly difficult point in his life.
He revealed: "I was definitely struggling with depression and anxiety. I got an eviction notice because my landlord was moving back from China, I'd lost all my clients, lost all my work, and then this idea kind of took shape.
"I decided to take the postbox to the highest point of all 15 national parks last year, and that was really successful, over 250 people joined me. I sent over 1,000 postcards to people experiencing loneliness, and I guess this journey is about continuing the mission to get people talking about loneliness because I think it's a silent endemic by its very nature - silence and loneliness walk hand in hand."
Stu Skinner is carrying a kg postbox across the length of the UK to raise awareness of loneliness and depression
RNBFILM / GB NEWS
Reflecting on his experiences of the trek so far, Mr Skinner told GB News the weather conditions and having to walk "along motorways" has been the hardest and most "terrifying" element so far.
He said: "I think about how much I've got to walk, and the fact I'm going to be walking in December also terrifies me, the cold, wet, wintry conditions, it's not my favourite conditions to hike in.
"And when I see that I'm not going to be getting home until mid-December, that was slightly terrifying, and just kind of made me realise that it's a huge undertaking that I'm doing, but I'm excited for what lies ahead.
"I was quite isolated on the stretch from Newcastle to Ripon, and I've spent a lot of time walking along busy motorways, which I find quite stressful, so for me, it's been a challenge.
Mr Skinner bought the postbox at an auction, and was inspired to carry it on his fundraising treks
STU SKINNER
"Walking in very urban, noisy environments has been a big change to how I normally hike, so the traffic and the noise has been difficult to deal with."
However, the mental health campaigner has been overwhelmed with acts of kindness from strangers he has met along the way, and he has learnt how important it is to "ask for help" from people when he needs it.
He said: "Accepting help from other people is always going to be a work in progress, but the experiences I've had so far for me have really showed the best of humanity, and just the kindness of strangers has made this journey a lot easier. It's still really hard, it's very difficult. But for me, the postbox is very symbolic, the weight of loneliness.
"And then when people are kind to me, people let me stay at their place, or they buy me breakfast, or they make a donation, or even just say some kind words, that really lightens the load."
Mr Skinner is hoping to raise £20,000 for his charity Head Outside, which helps those suffering from loneliness and depression
LILY MILES / STU SKINNER
Mr Skinner stressed there is a "global pandemic" of loneliness, and we must come together "as a community" to remind people that they are not alone.
He told GB News: "Loneliness, I would say, is not just an epidemic, it's another global pandemic that people all over the world are experiencing, and it's having devastating consequences on communities and society. It doesn't only have mental health consequences, it has physical health consequences.
"And I do think as a country that we need to address it, and it should be taken as seriously as the Covid pandemic we had a few years ago."
He added: "When I get to Portland Bill in December, I'd have hopefully a book's worth of stories from people who've experienced loneliness. I still struggle with thoughts of suicide and find life very challenging at times, but for me, doing stuff like this gives me purpose, it helps keep me going.
"I can't keep walking with a postbox on my back forever, so hopefully I find the solution to my own loneliness problem and maybe the solution for other people's as well, and maybe do more to address the loneliness problem that we've got in the UK at the moment."
To follow Mr Skinner's progress, join his walk or donate to Head Outside, click here.
