ONE of the lead facilitators at Andy's Man Club Barrow said its few months 'couldn't have gone any better' and is already making a difference.

The club had its first meeting on February 12, which 80 men attended. It offers a free-to-attend peer-to-peer support group under the mantra of 'it's okay to talk.' 

The meetings are on Mondays, apart from bank holidays, at The Crossbar at Barrow AFC. 

Over a month later the club is still getting around 40 men through the door each week, according to Shaun Hannaway. 

The Mail: Barrow Futsal squad are also supporters of AMC BarrowBarrow Futsal squad are also supporters of AMC Barrow (Image: Submitted)

"The proof is in the pudding," he said. "It's testament to the work we put in."

Over a dozen facilitators run the club and they received training from other Andy's Man Clubs in the run up to the inaugural session at Barrow. 

The club's first month made Shaun realise 'how overdue it was.' He said if it had been opened five years ago he was sure that some lives could have been saved. 

READ MORE: 80 men present at first Andy's Man Club in Barrow

"I know probably five or six people that have taken their own lives," he said. "They might all still be here today.

"We have already had it in some of the sessions. Some of the guys have said its saved their lives. We've had that already even though we've only had six sessions.

The Mail: Askam ARLC with an AMC posterAskam ARLC with an AMC poster (Image: Submitted)

"It's just a massive diverse group of people that have got an issue that they're dealing with and they want to get it off their chest." 

Shaun said the club had already established working relationships with other support groups and charities in Barrow such as Mind In Furness and Every Life Matters. 

The club is open to any man aged over 18. Shaun said despite Easter Monday being a bank holiday, so there will not be a normal session, they providing a big community event in the day at the Round House Hub and Café. 

The meeting point will be at Earnse Bay Car Park at 10am and there will be a 'walk and talk' along the scenic coastal route to the café on Biggar Bank. For wheelchair users and those with buggies, the second half of the walk will be on even terrain starting from the end of Central Drive, Walney at 10.15am.