Man Club is a judgement-free, safe and supportive place to talk, or just listen.
It began in late July 2017 when Phil Surry opened his home to men to come and talk openly about how they were feeling. Pretty soon Phil found he was running out of coffee cups! So, Man Club moved to a larger space and then subsequently became an independent charity.
From day one, confidentiality was established as a prime directive for Man Club. You can trust that Man Club will respect your confidentiality. What you hear, who you see here ... it all stays in Man Club.
In September 2017 Man Club started to use the Native American tradition of using a Talking Stick. The impact was profound and is now the very core of what makes Man Club work. When you hold the Talking Stick no man can interrupt you. This allows space that we don't usually experience in everyday life as well as encouraging each one of us to truly listen. As a brotherhood, we have shared values that all men are made aware of at each meeting.
The Facilitator who holds the space is there to serve the men with democracy, and fair play. He is Mentally Health First Aid qualified and has access to a variety of groups, and services that are available to you if you would like further support. As our collective compassion grows, we begin to truly understand that none of us are alone. This not only helps us grow as men, but also can have a profound impact on our society and culture.
Wherever you are on your journey, no matter how hard things may feel - you have made the step of walking through the door, and that is so often the most courageous one, and often the most powerful.
In early 2021 the founder Phil Surry, stepped away from Man Club to pursue other initiatives. A group of the Man Club members felt that Man Club was too valuable to lose, and they agreed to work together to take the organisation forwards. Man Club, as it is now, was established as a charity in December 2021.
MATT FALLA
Man Club Jersey
Matt set up Man Club in Jersey in early 2021 after discovering the group in Guernsey during a period of poor mental health in 2019.
“I found Man Club at the start of 2019 whilst living in Guernsey and during my second Mental Crisis. Although difficult to describe at the time, what I now realise is that Man Club gave me a space to be honest about how I was truly feeling within a group who understood. It was a space where I could finally take off the mask I’d grown used to wearing and be authentic by admitting that I wasn’t “Great”, “OK” or “Fine”, just feeling awful without any real idea why.
I believe that the path to feeling mentally positive and hopeful is accepting that at times you will feel the opposite and trying to identify why. Man Club is a community of men who are at different points on similar journeys, who understand that the answer we so desperately seek is rarely simple, but can sometimes be easier to find together.”
PAUL ARMSTRONG
Man Club Guernsey
Paul first attended Man Club when it was just a few men meeting at Phil Surry's place, back in 2017.
"I found Man Club back in 2017. I was depressed and stressed, and my coping strategies were very poor. At Man Club, I discovered that I was not the only one trying to put on a brave face. It took me a while to trust the group and open up, but when I did my life felt better - almost instantly.
Can you imagine having a group of really close friends? The sort of friends who would still be your friends - even if you told them about your greatest regrets, and admitted your most shameful failures? Man Club is that group. I think Man Club is recreating a male community which was once more common: A group of individuals striving to do their best, for their friends, for their families, and for themselves. All acknowledging that life is not easy for anyone and that we are all flawed, and that we can all benefit from a bit of encouragement."
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
We work with other organisations, including those focussed on improving Mental Health, to provide support for men across the Channel Islands.
Standing side by side in support of Freeda.
Rock2Recovery offer free, confidential 1-2-1 specialist change management coaching for members of the Armed Forces, Emergency Services and their immediate family members.
Helping islanders bridge the gap between their financial struggles and solutions that can sometimes just be out of reach.
Mill Street Community Café’s charitable purpose is to establish, operate and administer a café to relieve poverty, promote social inclusion and help those in need, if at all possible.
Man Club Jersey are a proud partner of Wednesday Night Football Club.
We meet every Wednesday night for walking football.
BSK Academy provide education, training and employment programmes for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
A new mental health app designed by men, for men.
In Guernsey, our meetings are currently held at the clubhouse of the Vale Rec Football Club.
“Man Club has helped me with my mental health battles by providing me with tools necessary from other guys who have experienced their own as well.”
Paul B.
“I’ve found not just one person but a whole team in Man Club, which has quickly become my sancturary (or maybe mactuary!)”
Matt F.
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