A CLUB dedicated to helping men face a variety of issues and struggles which can make them sink to the depths of despair is setting up a weekly group in North Craven.

Andy's Man Club says it is delighted to announces the opening of its 113th club nationwide, with the simple title, Andy's Man Club Settle.

The group will run from Settle Primary School from Monday, January 9 and from then on, every Monday at 7pm, excluding bank holidays, and is open to any man over the age of 18.

Lucas Whitehead, for the club, said: "This marks our first step into the Yorkshire Dales and our 4th club in North Yorkshire itself, alongside Tadcaster, York and Scarborough. We are aware of the alarming rate of male suicide in rural communities and are hopeful of making a positive impact in Settle, and the wider Craven district by showing men that #ItsOkayToTalk."

The concept of Andy's Man Club began in mid-2016 when nine men met in a small room in Halifax with a simple aim of talking through their issues and helping each other deal with the struggles in their lives.

All in attendance agreed there was a magic in that room that had to be shared. This was the start of a movement that has grown faster than anyone first involved could have ever imagined.

It takes its name from Andrew Roberts, a man who took his own life aged 23 in early 2016. Andy’s family had no inkling that he was suffering or struggling to the extent that he would do this, and wanted to try and prevent other families from going through what they had.

They set up Andy's Man Club, a group where men aged 18 and above can speak openly about their mental health in a judgment-free, non-clinical environment. Groups now operate nationwide and are completely volunteer-led, with all group facilitators having first interacted when they came through the door as a service user.

Fast forward almost six years and the club now has groups at more than 110 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. The club is a free-to-attend talking group that runs every Monday night at 7pm excluding on bank holidays.

With their service used on a weekly basis by over 2,300 men, and an army of over 500 volunteers on board, the movement is continuing to grow on a weekly basis.

Anyone interested in going along can email: info@andysmanclub.co.uk. or head to www.andysmanclub.co.uk.