A club helping men with mental health and loneliness issues in Alton celebrated its first birthday on May 13.

Andy’s Man Club Alton is one of nearly 300 such clubs around the country assisting around 6,000 men.

The organisation began with nine men in a room in Halifax following the suicide of 23-year-old Andrew Roberts in 2016.

Andy’s mother Elaine Roberts and brother-in-law Luke Ambler came up with the idea of a group where men could speak openly about their mental health, as suicide was the biggest killer of men aged under 54.

Steve Cassidy, the lead facilitator for Andy’s Man Club in Alton, said: “All of us are volunteers that give up our own time to help this worthy cause. On average we get around 20 men every Monday night.

“Every club in the country meets on a Monday night, bank holidays excluded. We usually have an informal walk and talk or curry, or a social even of some description, on bank holiday Monday nights.”

Although the organisation started because of a suicide, Steve said that men did not have to be in crisis to attend.

He added: “We have a mixture of people of different demographics, from 20-somethings through to 90-year-olds who come regularly.

“That might be because they moved to the area and feel lonely, or they feel lonely due to various factors through to marital, child and divorce issues, and also getting into bad habits of all sorts.”

Steve said men attending the group were never judged and were encouraged but not pressured to talk.

He added: “If they don't feel ready we do not force the issue. It’s fairly common to see men hovering around outside of the venue - Alton Community Centre - so there is a role called ‘sweeper’ that tries to ensure men who come are always met at the door to the car park with a warm welcome to encourage them in.”

Steve said that after the welcome, and tea or coffee and biscuits, they sat down and every man was asked four questions - first name and a positive reason for attending, how his week had been, a positive he had experienced in the last week, and anything he needed to get off his chest or mind.

These were followed by questions five and six, which changed every week.

Steve said: “These tend to be more light-hearted questions - for example ‘What's the nicest thing you have ever seen someone do?’ or ‘If you could wear just one type of shoe for life, what would it be?’.

“Examples from the past are things like ‘What’s your favourite biscuit?’ or ‘If you were to sing a karaoke song, what would it be?’ or ‘What's your guilty pleasure television programme?’.”

Steve said that Andy’s Man Club welcomed all men aged 18 and above.

He added: “There is no need to book, just turning up on the night is OK. We supply free tea, coffee and biscuits - and of course last week we had a massive cake!”

For more information visit www.andysmanclub.co.uk