MEN’S mental health charity, Andy’s Man Club, is due to open its first club in Wirral.
Andy's Man Club, which has branches across the country, is a free, peer to peer support group for men over 18 years old which meets on Monday evenings.
It aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a 'judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives'.
It has more than 5,000 men use the service across more than 250 locations.
The organisation takes its name from Andrew Roberts, who took his own life aged 23 in 2016. The first club was then set up later the same year in Halifax.
Paul Hardesty, Andys Man Club Lead Facilitator, told the Globe: “The Wirral venue has been in development for some time and will play a crucial role in opening more locations in the area.
“We currently have 260 venues across the UK, including online options, and this number is constantly changing.”
The club will open its doors on Monday, February 17 at the Clare Mount Specialist Sports College on Birket Avenue in Leasowe and will be set up by five existing facilitators from other clubs.
Paul added: “We want to end the stigma surrounding men's mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
“It's important to know that no man will walk in alone for the first time. A facilitator will always walk you in and get you a brew, explain the structure and answer any questions they may have.
“For me personally it's a proud moment. We all start off by attending the club as a user and I've gone on to run Crosby, organised and attend awareness events, launch advertising campaigns with Merseyrail and now open the Wirral's first.”
