- author, Dan Freeman
- role, BBC South
A community initiative set up to help men improve their mental health has seen membership numbers more than double in four weeks.
The Henley Mann Club, which serves Henley and the surrounding area, has now welcomed its 20th member.
The club was founded at the end of March by Luke Dorn and Gary Boyes, who lost loved ones to suicide.
The two friends wanted to create a safe space for men in the area to come and talk openly.
The non-profit group, hosted every Monday by The Bull on Bell Street Pub, has grown from eight to 20 members in four weeks.
Mr Boys said the idea behind it was “to save one man’s life”.
“And then there are people who open up to this group and say they may have come very close to this situation or even tried it,” he said.
“There has never been a better time in my life,” said a member who requested anonymity.
“In the three weeks since joining this group, I have already carved out a new path for my career,” he said.
“I’ve found a way to find a solution financially, and I’m also seeing progress in my relationship with my family and ex-wife.”
Dorn said the members shared a lot of things they hadn’t told anyone before.
“You can feel the energy of someone taking a weight off your shoulders and just breathing,” he said.
The club will take on the Tough Mudder Challenge on May 18, with the aim of “having a bit of fun” and raising money for charity.
It also aims to engage in volunteer work in the local community, and has already been approached by Kenton Theater and a local taxi company.
“Please come forward. We are a group of men who want to do great things for male identity,” Mr. Boys said.
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