A new branch of Andy’s Man Club is set to open in Harrogate in January.

The male suicide prevention charity, which hosts free peer-to-peer sessions at locations across Yorkshire and the north of England, will open at Harrogate College.

The weekly sessions will begin on Monday, January 22, at 7pm and are open to men aged 18 and over.

The

branch has received the backing of Emmerdale actor Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy Kirk in the soap.

He said:

The arrangements for the new branch were led by Neil Waine, who appeared in an episode of Emmerdale earlier this year when the storyline focused on men’s mental health, and saw ‘Paddy’ seek out a local Andy’s Man Club for help.

The aim of the sessions are for men to talk through their issues and help each other deal with their mental health.

Mr Waine, who is project development champion at Andy’s Man Club, said:

The charity was founded by Elaine Roberts and Luke Ambler after Andrew Roberts, Elaine’s son and Luke’s brother-in-law, took his own life aged 23 in 2016.

It held its first session in Halifax, Andrew’s hometown, and now helps to support more than 3,000 men on a weekly basis at more than 150 locations.

For more information on the Harrogate branch, follow them on Facebook here or email info@andysmanclub.co.uk.

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