We want to begin 2024 talking about suicide.
It’s a sensitive subject matter to discuss but we want to help break down the taboo about men’s mental health, and let males know that ‘It’s okay to talk’.
This is the tagline of the wonderful ANDYSMANCLUB which we have chosen as our Charity of the Year for 2024, and we will be organising numerous fundraising events and activities to support the organisation throughout this year.
ANDYSMANCLUB has more than 120 free support groups throughout the UK and provides an opportunity for men of all ages to get together on a weekly basis and open up about their mental health problems in a safe, judgment-free environment.
According to Office of National Statistics research, 74% of suicides in the UK involve men. On average, one man every two hours takes his life in the UK.
What ANDYSMANCLUB does is unite men who may be feeling depressed or suicidal and let them know that they are not alone; they have the strong support of volunteers and fellow group members. There is no pressure on members to speak neither, they can go and listen if that is their preferred choice.
More than 2,800 men use the organisation’s weekly sessions up and down the country, and close to 1,000 people volunteer their time to help others, and these numbers continue to grow.
In Cumbria, sessions run every Monday evening at 7pm (excluding bank holidays) at Derwent Park, Workington, James Walker & Co, Cockermouth and Grasslot Welfare Sports and Social Club, Maryport. More exciting news is that Carlisle United Community Trust and Whitehaven AFC will both start hosting sessions from January 8th.
We hope you will support our fundraising efforts throughout 2024 for this fantastic cause if you are able to, and keep an eye out for our charity activities.
“The first rule of ANDYSMANCLUB is it’s okay to talk at ANDYSMANCLUB.”
Last year, the wonderful Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust was the beneficiary of our fundraising efforts for 2023, and we were blown away by people’s generosity as we raised in excess of £45,000. Read more about our annual Charity Ball here.