Andy’s Man Club marks ten years of support with a commemorative mural celebrating its community and volunteers.
Andrew Roberts was just 23 when he died by suicide on April 5, 2016, according to the BBC report. Andy’s Man Club now operates more than 350 community groups across England, Scotland and Wales, alongside online sessions. Its weekly meetings collectively support around 7,000 men, offering free, confidential, walk-in sessions without registration or a referral.
His death came as a devastating shock to his family, including his mother, Elaine Roberts, and his brother-in-law, former professional rugby league player Luke Ambler. In the months that followed, the two began to consider how other families might be spared a similar experience. What began as a small community initiative has since developed into a nationwide movement. One of the early attendees was Oliver Vikse, who had experienced homelessness, the breakdown of his family unit and the loss of three friends to suicide. Finding a place where he could speak openly and be listened to became an important turning point, demonstrating the need for spaces that make emotional honesty easier.
The charity’s growth has been recognised through a national award, reflecting the impact of a project built around one family’s determination to turn grief into action. The Pride of Britain website has highlighted the story of Elaine and Ambler, whose work has helped create a lasting legacy in Andrew’s name.
In a world where men are often expected to keep their struggles to themselves, nine people gathered in Halifax in 2016 around an idea that was as ordinary as it was important. A decade later, that small meeting has grown into a nationwide support network reaching thousands of men every week, carrying forward the memory of a young man whose death changed his family forever. Scroll down to read the details of the unique concept.