When Andy’s Man Club group launched at The Mill Wellbeing Centre near Stamford, in March 2022, the aim was to bring men together to provide support and help each other through hard times. Now, the group is proud to be celebrating its one-year anniversary, having held nearly 50 sessions throughout the past 12 months.
On average one man every two hours takes his life in the UK. Andy’s Man Club aims to provide a national network of safe spaces for men to get talking and to help them feel part of something positive. Suicide and men’s mental health are still two of the most stigmatised subjects in society today, so Andy’s Man Club wants to save lives by reminding people that #ItsOkayToTalk.
The sessions run at The Mill in Duddington (PE9 3QG) every Monday of the year, excluding bank holidays, and they tend to attract around 10 attendees each week. The peer-to-peer sessions are free to attend, and you just turn up and talk as much or as little as you want in the secure, confidential and non-judgemental environment. All men are welcome to attend, whether it’s to participate in conversation or simply listen to other people sharing their experiences.
Luke Polden, a previous Andy’s Man Club attendee who struggled with his mental health and now facilitates the sessions at The Mill, explains: “Being part of Andy’s Man Club has been so rewarding. To have a group of men who lean on each other through life's ups and down has been a great support. You can see such a change in some guys when they open up and realise that they are not alone in their thoughts. It’s so heart-warming and reminds me of why I am part of this incredible brotherhood.”
Andy’s Man Club now offers over 100 free support groups nationwide, but the one held at The Mill was the first in the Stamford area.
“It has been fantastic to see the group grow and become such a vital resource for the local community,” explains Alexandra Constant, owner and founder of The Mill. “It has always been important to me that the centre offered services for men just as much as women. If we can help men feel supported and talk about how they are feeling, then it can make a huge difference.
She continues: “I would like to thank the facilitators for all the work they do volunteering with Andy’s Man Club at The Mill. We wouldn’t be able to run our sessions without their commitment, dedication, and effort.”
The Mill Wellbeing Centre (PE9 3QG) is located just off the A47 in the village of Duddington, just 10 minutes from Stamford and 20 minutes from Peterborough. Parking is available on-site. For more information, call 01780 444400, email enquiries@themillwellbeing.co.uk or visit www.themillwellbeing.co.uk. For more about Andy’s Man Club, take a look at www.andysmanclub.co.uk.