Cumbria’s first Andy’s Man Club is getting ready to open in West Cumbria.
The charity was formed in early 2016 by ex-Halifax rugby league player Luke Ambler and has created 117 men’s mental health groups across the UK – with Workington becoming the latest location to get one.
The new club will open its doors on January 16 and will take place every Monday from 7pm to 9pm at Workington Town Rugby League Club. It will offer a judgement-free, confidential space where men can speak openly about their struggles in free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups for over-18s.
Steve Brown, 54, of Workington, who has been the driving force behind the new club, said: “I thought we needed some kind of mental health support in the area. I heard about Andy’s Man Club about 12 months ago, so I got in touch and it’s all gone from there.
“I’ve got a few lads together who are trained up to be facilitators to help me out and we’re now ready to open up, we have our venue and everything is in place. It is really special to me to get this club open and to show that people aren’t alone and that there’s people in very similar situations to them.”
According to Every Life Matters, one person a week dies by suicide in Cumbria and it remains the leading cause of death for all men under 50 across the UK, Andy’s Man Club aims to tackle this head on.
Steve, along with his team who will be running the group, have gone through special facilitator training to host sessions and look after the group. Tea and biscuits are provided and sessions take the form of a discussion circle.
He added: “It’s a non-judgemental club, it doesn’t matter your background, race or sexuality, it is all absolutely even when you come through that door. Getting through them doors the first time is the hardest thing to do.
“Sometimes people will come a few times before they speak or open up, but nobody is forced to speak and we always end things on a positive.
“So many people are struggling in this area and men don’t talk. It’s a big rugby league area and men try and keep themselves to themselves, it’s old school around here and we haven’t got any other clubs, this is the first one in Cumbria.
“At the end of the day it’s suicide prevention and Andy’s Man Club has saved hundreds of of lives.”
Steve added that in the future, they hope to branch out and open up more clubs in areas such as Whitehaven and Maryport.
