International Men’s Day 2025: AFG & Andy’s Man Club

Today, on International Men’s Day, we are proud to spotlight the positive contributions men and boys make in our communities, and to recognise the challenges many men face, particularly in terms of mental health and suicide prevention. 35% of our workforce are male, as are 75% of the people we support, so this topic is especially important to our organisation and our people. 

AFG’s webinar with Andy’s Man Club (AMC) 

This year we partnered with Andy’s Man Club (AMC) to host an online webinar focused on men’s mental health. AMC is a UK-based men’s suicide prevention charity that runs free peer-to-peer support groups, offering a safe, non-clinical, judgement-free environment for men to talk or simply listen. Currently, the charity runs 320 support groups across England, Scotland and Wales, which are attended by around 6500 men every week. 

The webinar with AMC sparked meaningful discussion, shining a light on the importance of creating safe spaces for men to open up, share experiences, and find support. 

During the webinar, some core ideas stood out: 

• The power of conversation: As AMC puts it, “It’s Okay To Talk”. 

• The value of a safe space: offering men the chance to speak (or not speak) without pressure, in an environment of acceptance. 

• The recognition that men’s mental health is often overlooked, yet vital to address, honoured by the data and by lived experience. 

Why men’s mental health matters 

Given the demographics of our workforce and people supported by AFG, we recognise that men’s mental health isn’t a niche issue, it’s central to our mission of care, support and inclusion. On International Men’s Day we’re reminded that celebrating the positive contributions of men goes hand-in-hand with acknowledging the real and sometimes hidden struggles they face. 

For many men, the challenges stack up: societal expectations, stigma about talking, isolation, and silent battles. We know that by creating spaces where these issues can be discussed openly, without judgement or shame, we can make a genuine difference. 

Our next step: The AFG Men’s Group 

Following conversations with our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Champions, we’re excited to announce the development of a dedicated Men’s Group within AFG. This initiative will provide a safe, supportive environment for conversation, shared experience, and wellbeing, specifically for the men in our workforce, to come together, connect and engage. 

This group will be a space where: 

• Men can share experiences – whether work-related, personal, or health-related. 

• Conversations are encouraged but not pressured – much like the model at Andy’s Man Club. 

• Mutual support and listening are embedded into our culture. 

• We continue to drive forward our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion – not just in words, but in action. 

Looking forward 

On this International Men’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment: 

• To celebrate the positive roles men and boys play in our communities and at AFG. 

• To recognise the distinct challenges men face, especially in mental health and suicide prevention. 

• To act – by offering real support, creating safe spaces, and partnering with experts like Andy’s Man Club. 

• To evolve – by launching our Men’s Group and embedding this work into our organisational culture. 

We’re grateful to Andy’s Man Club for joining us for a special webinar this week, and for their dedicated work supporting men nationwide and bringing this important conversation to life. Together, we’re helping make the message clear: it’s okay not to be okay and it’s okay to talk.

Let’s keep the conversation going because every voice matters, every story matters, and together we can build stronger, safer spaces for all. 

Find out more about Andy’s Man Club here. 

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