Andy's Man Club

Started in February 2024 and made possible with significant funding from the CRH Foundation &
Action Together, Ashton United in the Community host weekly meetings of ANDYSMANCLUB in the
Crossbar at Ashton United’s Hurst Cross Stadium in Ashton-Under-Lyne on Monday evenings
commencing at 7pm.

ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer
support across the United Kingdom and online. Their aim is to end the stigma surrounding men’s
mental health and help men through the power of conversation. #ITSOKAYTOTALK
Formed in mid-2016 in Halifax, West Yorkshire the movement has grown faster than anyone first
involved could have ever imagined. Fast forward 8 years and ANDYSMANCLUB now has groups at over 200
locations across three countries of the UK.

In the 8 months that we have been going at Ashton United we have had a total of 1367 men through the door
of which 230 have attended ANDYSMANCLUB for the first time.
With respect to successes there are many. The following testimonial, publicly available via Facebook,
from Anthony Howard Cofield encapsulates just what an impact ANDYSMANCLUB has made.

"Hi I'm Ant a new facilitator at AMC Ashton.

My story begins with addiction and the life that comes with it. After finally working on my
addiction, I'm finally becoming a better person I am learning a lot about ADHD and that it is okay
to talk about things and worries. Also, I'm learning about myself through therapy. Therapy itself
opened my eyes along with support from proper friends from the real world not the drug world.
Without this correct support from the real people, I wouldn't have come so far as I have but AMC
has changed my life for the better.

I now have more motivation on moving forward with things, instead of hiding away from my
problems I can now tackle those worries and problems straight on. I have become more alert with
daily tasks. With the support from AMC and true proper friends I have realised there's a happier
way of living.

I was so far wrapped up in the drug life like I totally lost sight on who I was and I hated the person
I became until one day my friend mentioned about AMC Ashton. I was scared at first and I would
walk around the venue until a facilitator came to me to tell me everything's okay but after being
at AMC since April 2024 it got easier and easier each and every time I went. Like so many other
men on their first time at AMC thinking I’ll say nothing and then ultimately end up leaving. I
stayed and it has been the best decision I've made in my life. I turn up to AMC week in week out.
We have become a band of brothers.

Then I got a call inviting me to be part of the facilitator team and I jumped at the chance to give
something back. I'm still working on myself but being involved with AMC has helped me to grow
stronger

Ant"