Andy’s Man Club has been named as Together Housing’s Charity of the Year 2022.
During an online ceremony, Together Housing Group Chief Executive, Kevin Ruth announced the winning charity.
Coming first place the housing association will work with Andy’s Man Club throughout this year to help them gain support and raise funds to further their work in male mental health.
Mental health – not a buzzword or a trend – is just as important as physical health. Encompassing emotional, psychological and social wellbeing it influences the way people perceive situations and the way they behave.
Together Housing’s Ground Maintenance Operative, Lee Cumber nominated the charity saying, “There are still a lot of people, especially men and large amounts of men in my age group that suffer day to day. It’s hard. It’s very hard, but they just need to know that it is okay to talk, and it is okay to feel like this. It’s so common. I wish people spoke about mental health like they speak about the common cold, that way we could stop the stigma around it. Male mental health is often overlooked. People don’t know how hard it is for men to reach out and ask for help, especially because of the stigma associated with it all.”
Lee added: “I nominated Andy’s man club because I feel they do just that, they allow people to talk, and realise it is ok, and that there are other people like this, other people in similar situations. I won’t ever stop trying to raise awareness for mental health, especially men’s mental health. It’s such a great charity.”
Staff at the housing association nominated 26 other charities and Andy’s Man Club was shortlisted winning first place, receiving a donation of £1000 and support to raise further funds throughout the year. Cancer Research UK came second place with a donation of £500 and Child Brain Injury Trust placed third with a £250 donation to their cause. The charity will receive a further £1,100 through the Together Housing Staff survey.
Mental health problems affect both men and women, so it is important to ensure you look after your mental health as well as your physical health. According to the Mental Health Foundation in England, one in eight men has a common mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Neil Waine, Project Manager at Andy’s Mans Club said, “We are delighted to have been named Together Housing’s charity of the year! We can’t wait to start supporting staff and users of Together over the coming year and continuing to get in front of more and more people. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK, and it is vital that we are able to keep spreading our message, #ItsOkayToTalk, far and wide.”
Set up in 2021, all staff are given the opportunity to nominate a charity for this award. Together Housing supports the charity for a year helping with promotion and raising funds. These awards are part of Together Housing’s social value and health and wellbeing strategies which recognise the fantastic contribution made by employees to improve the quality of life in the communities in which they live and work as well as improving staff’s mental wellbeing by helping others.
If you would like to join one of the free talking groups run by Andy’s Man Club, for more information contact: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/ or you can Donate to Andys Man Club Limited | Give as you Live Donate