Del: I just want to say what a privelege it is to have you on as a guest based on the wonderful work you do. Tell us a little bit about who you are and the organisation you work for

Antony: My name’s Antony Valori and I’m the Area Lead for across Merseyside and the Northwest, helping support existing groups and open new ones across the region.

Originally though, I attended Andy’s Man Club as a member myself. Around four and a half years ago I reached a really dark place mentally and had two suicide attempts. At the time, I genuinely didn’t think I needed help. I was one of those people who thought, “I’m alright, I’ll deal with it myself.”

Finding Andy’s Man Club completely changed my life. After getting support myself, I wanted to give something back, so I became a volunteer, started helping run groups, and eventually joined the charity full-time to help other men who may be struggling in silence like I was.

Del: For anybody unfamiliar with Andy’s Man Club, what exactly is it?

Antony: Andy’s Man Club is a peer-to-peer men’s mental health and suicide prevention charity.

We run free support groups every Monday evening where men can come together, talk openly, and realise they’re not alone. Sometimes it’s simply about having a brew, a chat, and leaving feeling a little bit lighter than when you walked in.

The biggest thing is creating a safe, non-judgemental environment where men feel comfortable enough to open up. A lot of people still believe men don’t talk, but we see every single week that they absolutely will when they feel supported and understood.

Del: This has grown into something much bigger than a local support group. Can you elaborate on how Andy’s man club has grown.

Antony: Massively. What started as one small support group in Halifax following the tragic loss of Andrew Roberts has now grown into more than 336 groups across the UK, with around 6,700 men attending every single week.

It’s incredible when you think about how far it’s come in ten years. The growth shows just how many people need spaces like this and how important conversations around men’s mental health have become.

It’s not just helping the men who attend either — it’s helping families, relationships, and support networks around them too.

Del: What do you think makes Andy’s Man Club connect with so many people?

Antony: There’s no judgement. You can walk into a room and have men from completely different backgrounds all supporting each other. Somebody might be dealing with grief, somebody else might be struggling with relationships, mental health, work pressures, or loneliness — but everyone understands what it feels like to struggle.

There’s also something really powerful about hearing other people open up honestly, because it makes you realise you don’t have to carry everything on your own.

Del: You’ve clearly grown in confidence through all of this too.

Antony: Definitely. I’ve gone from somebody who genuinely didn’t want to be here anymore to somebody speaking publicly about mental health in front of hundreds of people.

That’s something I never imagined doing years ago. But finding purpose through helping others has completely changed my outlook on life and helped build confidence naturally over time.

I’m still not somebody who’d describe themselves as massively confident, but I’m very passionate about what we do and the impact it has on people.

Del: How important are exercise and challenge for mental wellbeing?

Antony: Huge for me personally. Running became a massive outlet mentally because it gave me time to clear my head and focus on something positive. I started with Couch to 5K, then moved onto 10Ks and eventually completed five half marathons in one year.

I’ve also pushed myself outside my comfort zone in other ways, including speaking publicly and taking part in charity events. I think challenging yourself positively can have a huge impact on confidence and mental wellbeing.

Del: Finally, what advice would you give to somebody struggling right now?

Antony: Firstly, you’re not alone — and secondly, things really can get better.

Opening up won’t fix everything overnight, but it’s the start, and starting is incredibly important. Speak to somebody you trust, reach out for support, and don’t suffer in silence.

There are organisations and people out there who genuinely care and want to help. Life is better with you in it.