The new support group will become the first Andy’s Man Club in East Manchester, joining over 180 clubs nationwide which currently support more than 4,000 men.
Founded in Halifax in 2016 to create positive change in men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club is a suicide prevention charity offering free peer-to-peer support groups for males over the age of 18.
In alignment with Andy’s Man Clubs across the country, attendees will be asked to arrive from 18:30 (UK) ahead of the 19:00 start time.
The sessions are free, with no pre-registering or identification required. Importantly, for those attending there is no pressure to speak at any session and Andy’s Man Club say that many participants have taken their first step by listening.
Any man or individual identifying as a male over the age of 18 can attend. Additionally, there is no requirement to be a Season Ticket Member or holder of a Cityzens Official Membership to attend.
On arrival, entrance to the Andy’s Man Club sessions will take place via the East Stand reception (Door F in the map at the end of this article).
The entrance is fully accessible, with step free access from the East Stand reception to the venue within the Etihad Stadium. Attendees will be greeted on arrival by trained volunteer facilitators from Andy’s Man Club, who will guide them through to the venue.
Following the opening of the new group, sessions will run from 19:00-21:00 every week, aside from Bank Holiday Mondays. Hence, sessions for the first month will take place on the following dates:
- Monday 13 May
- Monday 20 May
- Monday 3 June
- Monday 10 June
For information on travelling to an Andy’s Man Club session, please visit the end of this article.
CITY FANS DISCUSS ANDY’S MAN CLUB
To share what Andy’s Man Club is all about, Manchester City fans Martyn, Omar and Steve sat down to discuss their experiences of the men’s peer support group.
The discussion ranged from their reasons for attending, first experience at Andy’s Man Club and wider mental health journeys, to their favourite guilty pleasure song – with Steve particularly enjoying Shania Twain!
Commenting on his reason for sharing his experiences, Omar said:
“I am here on a Monday because this combines two of the things that I love most in the world, Man City and Andy’s Man Club.
“Andy’s Man Club is one of the best things I’ve ever done, its really helped me with my mental health.”
As part of the conversation, Martyn had his say on the Club opening an Andy’s Man Club:
“So many people are invested in the sport of football. For City to get behind the message that mental health is important, you know to help people in general – its fantastic, absolutely fantastic.”
The trio were joined by Dan Rowe, Senior Project Development Champion at Andy’s Man Club, who said:
“A massive thank you to Man City for inviting myself and three of our volunteers along to the Etihad Stadium to create this video ahead of our group launching on May 13.
“Omar, Steve and Martyn are all huge City fans and huge advocates of the support AMC offers and they are overjoyed to see City opening its doors to the wider community of East Manchester.
“From an organisational standpoint, a group opening in East Manchester will further our support in the Greater Manchester region and make our face-to-face groups even more accessible.”
The fans have followed John Stones, who also sat down recently to learn more about Andy’s Man Club sessions. Stones was joined by Lucas Whitehead and Oliver Vikse from the men’s suicide prevention charity to experience what sessions are all about following the Club’s announcement of the new group.
For more information about Andy’s Man Club, please visit: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
TRAVELLING TO AND FROM AN ANDY’S MAN CLUB SESSION:
Andy’s Man Club sessions will take place in the Etihad Stadium, which is easily accessible using a range of modes of transport and is within easy walking distance from Manchester city centre.
Those attending an Andy’s Man Club session can:
- Drive and park at the Etihad Stadium
- Hop on the Metrolink
- Walk from the city centre
- Use a commercial bus service
- Travel by train, and then walk or use public transport
- Cycle to the Etihad Stadium
- Hire a private taxi
Further travel information will be communicated in the run up to the first session.
