After Elaine’s son, Luke’s brother-in-law, took his own life, they set up a male suicide prevention charity that has saved thousands of lives.
Andrew Roberts was 23 when he died in 2016 – his devastated family had no idea that he had been struggling so much. They soon discovered that male suicide is the biggest killer of UK men under 50.
Andrew’s mum Elaine and his brother-in-law Luke decided to form Andy’s Man Club, a simple, barrier-free space for men to have “a brew and a chat”. It started as one initial group meeting with just nine men in Halifax, and has now – ten years later – expanded into more than 360 community groups across England, Scotland and Wales, alongside online sessions.
Every Monday night, roughly 7,000 men gather for free, confidential, walk-in peer support – no registration or referral needed. The sessions are completely volunteer-led, with all group leaders having first interacted with Andy’s Man Club when they used it themselves.
Determined to shatter stigmas, Luke also started a viral #ItsOkayToTalk campaign, which reached more than 100 million people worldwide, building an incredible legacy that has saved thousands of lives.
Elaine, 71, says: “I lost my son to suicide and Luke came to me three months later and suggested a coffee club where guys could go to talk, because I’m sure if Andrew would have talked to us he wouldn’t have taken his life.
“We’re trying to break down the stigma and we’ve only just scratched the surface. It’s about helping as many men as possible, one person at a time. We’ve been told Andy’s Man Club should be on prescription, bottled and sold at Boots. It can be emotional, but it’s an uplifting experience and makes you feel connected.”
Luke, 36, a former pro rugby player, says: “The goal has always been to stop other families going through what ours went through. Seeing men who needed support now giving it to others makes me so proud. We’d be nothing without our team, volunteers, supporters and everyone who’s contributed.
“Ten years building ANDYSMANCLUB alongside a growing family and my own business has been tough. But when someone says they’re still here because of it, you know why you’ve kept going and doing it. Alongside your mother-in-law? That’s a whole other story!”
Oliver Vikse, who works for AMC and was one of the first nine men to walk through the door, says: “I had a really bad period in my life. My family unit had broken down. I experienced homelessness and I lost three friends to suicide. I still remember the electricity in the room after that first session. It was so refreshing to sit and be heard.”
