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I don’t think we were quite ready for the very personal and emotional talk delivered by Chris Kelly from Andy’s Man Club at Naimuri’s Manchester HQ last week.
Men’s mental health is a topic that for too long has been swept under the rug, laughed off, or met with awkward silence. But there’s one grassroots movement that’s changing all that, one brew and one brave chat at a time: Andy’s Man Club.
Naimuri employees had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Chris, one of the 20 Area Leads at Andy’s Man Club (or AMC, as the regulars call it).
Chris, who spent 30 years in the police force, is now helping to lead a mental health revolution. And when I say revolution, I mean it. There are now over 280 groups meeting every week across England, Scotland, and Wales. And get this: more than 5,800 men attend these sessions every single week. That’s thousands of conversations that may never have happened otherwise.
From tragedy to support
Andy’s Man Club started in June 2016, following the heartbreaking loss of a young man named Andy. His family turned their pain into purpose, launching what has become one of the biggest mental health campaigns in the UK, with over 100 million people worldwide, even some Hollywood stars backing the brand and campaign.
The idea is simple, but powerful: a safe space for men to talk. No pressure. No cost. No judgment. Just tea, coffee, and open conversation. As they say, #ItsOkayToTalk, and AMC is doing it every single Monday (bank holidays aside).
Why it matters
Every year, nearly 5,000 men take their own lives in the UK. That’s 12 men every day, or one man every two hours. It's the biggest killer of men under 54. Behind those numbers are families shattered, communities shaken, and ripples that extend far beyond what we can see.
But when you step into an AMC meeting, those stats become faces. Real men. Real stories. Real courage.
Chris himself first came to the club during a dark time in his life. “I was good at wearing a mask,” he told us. His wife was battling cancer. He was still processing the trauma from working at the Manchester Arena bombing. But week by week, he made excuses to go. And slowly, something changed. He listened. He felt less alone. He realised other men were feeling the same way.
Eventually, Chris became a facilitator in 2022. Then, in June 2023, he helped launch the Wigan AMC group, which now sees around 90 men a week. By September 2024, he was an Area Lead. And today? He says it plainly: “I wouldn’t be here without Andy’s Man Club.”
What happens at a meeting?
There’s no booking system. No formality. Just turn up.
You’ll be greeted with a handshake at the door. Offer a brew. And then, (if you feel ready), you can join in the group discussion. Every meeting follows five simple questions, like:
- How’s your week been?
- What’s your positive of the week?
- What do you want to get off your chest?
- What’s one trait in others you’d like to have in yourself?
And perhaps most importantly, there’s no talk about politics, religion, medication, or criminal matters. Just honest conversation between men who get it.
The impact is huge.
For Chris, the moment that always hits hardest is when a man walks through that door for the first time. He says, “The best man award is and always will be, that one man who takes the courage to show up.”
Andy’s Man Club runs entirely on donations and is supported by a core team of 40 staff members, many of whom have walked their own path through the darkness. It’s also thanks to the amazing women behind the scenes, affectionately called “office angels”, that enable this movement to keep on growing.
You don’t have to be on the edge
One of the most powerful messages Chris shared was this: "You don’t have to be on the edge of a bridge to come to Andy’s Man Club." You might just be feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or like the weight’s too heavy. That’s enough.
Even showing up and saying nothing is okay. Sometimes, just listening can be life-changing.
📍 Want to find a group near you?
There are hundreds of groups all across the UK, and an online option too. Check out www.andysmanclub.co.uk to find a venue or get more info. Or drop them a message at info@andysmanclub.co.uk.
Chris was also kind enough to give us a few words about Andy's Man Club in this short video.
If you’re going through a storm, you don’t have to weather it alone.
