Andy’s Man Club has been awarded a £17,000 donation by Rochdale Borough Council this May through a national scheme that recycles metals such as artificial joints and coffin fittings after cremation.
Run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) and OrthoMetals, the scheme has raised more than £20 million for good causes across the UK since it launched in 2006.
The £17,000 donation raised from cremations held at Rochdale's crematoria has been sent to the men’s mental health charity, which first began in 2016 when 9 men got together to discuss mental health after club co–founder Luke Ambler sadly lost his brother-in-law, Andrew Roberts to suicide.
Luke and Andy’s mum, Elaine, wanted to spare other families the same loss caused by mental health struggles, which inspired them to start the club.
The charity now runs more than 350 weekly groups across the UK, including 4 across Rochdale borough, supported by over 3,500 volunteers and attended by more than 6,500 people each week.
The donation is earmarked to help towards the work in supporting men and their families to get together to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and helps men to talk openly in a judgment-free, supportive environment, where it is ok to talk.
Councillor Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for climate change and environment, said:
“Andy’s Man Club is a very deserving recipient of this donation. Now in its 10th year, the charity supports men and their families by encouraging open conversations about mental health, offering help during difficult times and reminding them they are not alone. Its weekly groups give people the chance to meet others, whether they want to talk or simply listen.
“This donation has been made possible by families and friends across the borough who kindly gave consent for metals to be recycled after the loss of a loved one. I thank them for their support of the scheme, which helps vital charities like this continue helping people when they need it most.”
Lucas Whitehead, Head of Partnerships at Andy’s Man Club, added:
"We are extremely grateful for the generosity and the continued support of Rochdale Borough Council in their donation of £17,000 to Andy’s Man Club. As a donation-led charity, contributions of this kind ensure we can continue running as a charity, with money going directly to venue costs, refreshment costs, and into vital awareness-raising work that is taking place in communities across Greater Manchester and the UK. Thank you for your continued support."