Metal recycling scheme provides £14,000 New Year boost for Andy’s Man Club

UK charity, Andy’s Man Club has been chosen by Rochdale Borough Council to receive a £14,000 cash boost this January thanks to a national scheme that recycles metals such as artificial joints and coffin fittings following cremation.

The scheme, managed by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) and OrthoMetals has raised a staggering £19,112 million for 2,551 good causes since it began in 2006, with this round making 179 separate donations, totalling £2,071 million to worthy charities.

The £14,000 donation raised from cremations held at Rochdale's crematoria has been sent to the men’s suicide prevention charity, which first began in 2016 when nine men got together to discuss mental health after club co–founder Luke Ambler sadly lost his brother-in-law, Andrew Roberts to suicide.

Luke, along with Andy’s mum, Elaine wanted to help prevent other families from experiencing the same loss of a loved one due to mental health issues. Fast forward seven years and the club has over 130 locations attended by more than 3000 men and 900 volunteer facilitators across three counties, including two local groups in Rochdale.

The donation is earmarked to help significantly towards the work in supporting men and their families to get together to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and helps men through the power of conversation to talk openly in a judgment-free, supportive environment, where it is ok to talk.

Councillor Liam O’Rourke, the council’s cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: “Andy’s Man Club is a well-deserved recipient who helps many men and their families to talk openly about mental health, stepping in to help guide many through dark times by getting together with others to share personal experiences and to know you’re not alone.

“The donation made is thanks to families and friends across the borough who have given consent to recycle metals following the loss of a loved one.  For that I say thank you, as with your help, we can help support the ongoing work that vital charities such as this provide to those in their hour, days, weeks, months, and even years of need.”

Lucas Whitehead, Head of Marketing & Partnerships at Andy's Man Club, added: "We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Rochdale Borough Council in their donation of £14,000 to Andy’s Man Club. As a donation-led charity, donations of this kind ensure we can continue running as a charity, going directly to venue costs, refreshment costs, and into vital awareness-raising work that is taking place in communities across Greater Manchester and the UK."

If you are a local charity offering bereavement services to borough residents, you can apply to receive a donation in the next round, which will be available later this summer.

See rochdale.gov.uk/funerals for further information and how to apply.