Westmorland and Furness Council is showing its support for Andy’s Man Club by bringing messages of men’s mental health awareness to the streets of Furness and South Lakeland.
Two of the Council’s waste collection vehicles have been given new livery featuring signage from the Club’s ‘It’s Okay to Talk’ campaign, which encourages men to reach out and seek support.
Andy’s Man Club is a men’s suicide prevention charity that offers free, peer‑to‑peer support groups across the UK and online. Its mission is to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health by providing a welcoming, judgment‑free environment where men aged 18 and over can talk openly about whatever they are going through.
As part of the launch of the new vehicle livery, volunteers from Andy’s Man Club have been visiting the Council’s waste teams to discuss the campaign and the new vehicle signage, helping spread the message among staff as well as the wider community.
This follows a series of information sessions the charity delivered for Council staff throughout January and February, focusing on the importance of talking openly, breaking down stigma around mental health, and encouraging people to seek support when they need it. While Andy’s Man Club’s core mission is supporting men, the sessions were open to all staff, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to take part and engage in the conversation.
Councillor Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said:
“It’s a proud moment for us as a Council to be able to support such an important and meaningful campaign. The statistics around male suicide are shocking, and they highlight just how vital it is that we continue breaking down the barriers that prevent men from talking openly about their mental health.
“By partnering with Andy’s Man Club, we want to help normalise these conversations - both within our organisation and across our communities. Something as simple as seeing a message on the side of a wagon can be the reminder someone needs that they’re not alone and that support is available. We hope these signs encourage more men to reach out, talk, and seek help when they need it.”
The Council also hopes to build on this work by exploring further opportunities to support Andy’s Man Club in the Eden area in future, ensuring consistent visibility and awareness across the whole of Westmorland and Furness.
Lucas Whitehead, Head of Partnerships at ANDYSMANCLUB, said:
“We are delighted that refuse collection vehicles in Barrow and Kendal will be wrapped in ANDYSMANCLUB branding. As a charity, we know that unfortunately suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 54 and that a large proportion of men are unlikely to come forward to seek help when they are suffering. Placing our branding in front of the men of Barrow, Kendal and the surrounding areas on a daily basis will increase the chances of men coming forward and using our free Monday night talking groups in those locations. A massive thank you to those who made this possible."
If you are in urgent need of help, please contact the emergency services. If you need someone to talk to before attending an Andy’s Man Club session, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258 for dedicated text support. An NHS mental health support service is also available by calling 111 and selecting the mental health option.