Andy's Man Club has spread its positive mental health message on a larger scale after hosting its first-ever event.

The family fun day took place at Barrow AFC's SO Legal Stadium on Sunday, August 11, with hundreds turning out to support the endeavour.

With live music and entertainment, the event also featured numerous stalls from various local organisations providing information about the support that is available in the area.

The initiative to bring Andy's Man Club to Barrow was originally spearheaded by Rachel Warburton, Events and Conferencing Manager at Barrow AFC, and she once again helped the club branch out with this new event.

Read more: Barrow Andy's Man Club surpasses 1,000 attendees since launch | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)

After contacting the national charity in 2022, Rachel's efforts, in collaboration with the support of the club, led to the successful launch of the group, which has been a 'beacon of hope' for many in the community. 

When it officially launched earlier this year, the Barrow group experienced the largest opening experienced by one of the clubs across the country.

Rachel said: "This achievement highlights the pressing need for mental health support in Barrow-in-Furness, an area where statistics show a high prevalence of mental health challenges among men. 

"We are so proud of the impact Andy's Man Club has had in our community.

"This Family Fun Day is our way of celebrating the positive changes we've seen and continuing to raise awareness about the importance of mental health support." 

Under the leadership of Shaun Hannaway and his dedicated team of facilitators, the club has quickly become a vital resource for men in the area.

The weekly meetings offer a safe and supportive environment for men to talk openly about their mental health challenges, breaking down the barriers of stigma and isolation. 

Shaun added: "Now that the dust has settled and the sunshine disappeared, we'd just like to say thank you to everyone involved with our family fun day.

"To all the well-being network personnel, stall hosts, food vendors, security staff, musicians, bar staff and those who attended to show support to our club - the whole day was beautiful and we couldn't have done it without you."

The club and Barrow AFC are now already looking forward to next year, hoping to make the event an even bigger spectacle.