Members from a men's suicide prevention charity that is rapidly growing throughout the UK met with Barrow's MP ahead of its new branch opening locally next month.

Andy's Man Club (AMC) is set to open a weekly club at Barrow AFC's Holker Street from February 12.

Any local man over 18 is welcome regardless of background, beliefs and what you do for a living. The club is designed to be a safe place for men to meet and talk.

Events Manager at Barrow AFC Rachel Warburton had contacted AMC last year to inquire whether Barrow AFC could be a host for a local support group. 

At the time, there were no plans for a club in Barrow, however, after 12 local men travelled to AMC's Workington branch weekly to complete training as facilitators, the offer was taken to use the stadium to facilitate the sessions.

The Mail: Andy Man's Club is set to come to Barrow AFC's Holker Street next yearNow, two members have met with the region's MP Simon Fell to discuss the new branch. 

Mr Fell said: "I met with Shaun and Martin from Andy’s Man Club on Friday in my weekly surgery.

"This is such an important initiative and I’m hugely grateful to them, Barrow AFC, and all of their volunteers for getting the project off the ground.

"We all go through low points, and setting up this free to attend, weekly, talking group will help people from across Furness who want to share, listen, and to know that they're not alone."

Barrow has one of the highest rates of suicide in the country according to the ONS (Office of National Statistics) recorded suicide data for England and Wales.

The data shows that across the 2020-22 period, Barrow was fourth highest with 17.2 deaths per 100,000 of the population, in comparison to the country's average of 10.5.

AMC started in 2016 with just nine men meeting in Halifax, West Yorkshire, however has now grown to well over 150 clubs - with new ones opening regularly.

The club was founded by Elaine Roberts, the mum of Andrew Roberts, who took his own life in 2016 at age 23.