Living aboard a narrowboat inspired Maxine K Brown to create MKB Listening Support a nationwide text-based service offering kindness, compassion and a listening ear to anyone who needs it.
For many people, life on a narrowboat is about slowing down, embracing nature and enjoying a simpler way of living. For Maxine K Brown, it has also become the inspiration for something much bigger a way of helping people feel less alone.
Travelling the UK’s waterways full-time, Maxine has experienced first-hand the value of human connection. From chance conversations along the towpath to the supportive communities found in canalside villages, she has seen how even the smallest interaction can brighten someone’s day. Those experiences inspired her to create MKB Listening Support, a nationwide text-based service offering a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space for anyone who needs someone to listen.
“Living on a narrowboat has shown me how important human connection can be,” says Maxine. “MKB Listening Support was created to provide a compassionate space where people can feel heard, supported and less alone, wherever they are in the UK.”
Unlike traditional support services, MKB Listening Support operates entirely through text messaging, making it accessible to people who may find talking on the phone difficult or simply prefer to express themselves in writing. Whether someone is experiencing loneliness, anxiety, grief, feeling overwhelmed, or simply needs someone to listen, the service offers understanding without judgement.
Maxine brings a wealth of professional knowledge to the role. She is a qualified life coach and grief counsellor with additional training in safeguarding, hypnotherapy, human resource management, and self-harm and suicide prevention. She also holds a current DBS check and ensures the service operates professionally, confidentially and in full accordance with GDPR requirements.
Alongside her counselling work, Maxine is also an author, writing self-help journals, children’s books and recipe books, all reflecting her passion for encouraging wellbeing, resilience and kindness.
For Maxine, MKB Listening Support is about offering something many people need but often struggle to find someone willing to genuinely listen.
In a world where many people feel isolated despite being constantly connected, her message is simple: no one should have to face life’s challenges alone.
For more information or to access the service, simply text 07934 774373.
Maxine K Brown
Founder, MKB Listening Support
