Founder of Useful and author of Useful Advice from a Hypocrite
Darren Evans
Founder and author · Useful
Darren Evans is an author, mentor and the founder of Useful, a brand that aims to help people, especially men, based on his own experiences. Formerly a joiner, Darren went through a very difficult period during lockdown when work dried up, he was unable to see his children and his mental health was in a bad place. Finding a long wait for support, he turned to writing, and the result was his book, Useful Advice from a Hypocrite, which he produced and funded himself.
Darren represented himself in court and now has full custody of his children. As a single father, he has built Useful around the life he wants to give them. He has run free workshops for young people at a boxing club, many of whom were at risk of being drawn into gang activity, mentored men and women one-to-one, and worked to get his book into prisons. He now hopes to bring wellbeing workshops into workplaces.
Darren pitched on Pitch'd or Ditch'd in September 2026, joined at the studio by his daughter, and left having sold ten copies of his book.