Men's mental health club hits membership milestone

Luke Dorn (L) and Gary Boys (R) started the club at the end of March

A community initiative set up to help improve the mental health of men has more than doubled its membership in four weeks.

The Henley Man Club, which serves Henley and its surrounding areas, has now welcomed its 20th member.

The club was founded at the end of March by Luke Dorn and Gary Boys, who had both lost people close to them through suicide.

The two friends wanted to create a safe space for men in the area to come and talk openly.

The not-for-profit group is hosted by The Bull On Bell Street pub every Monday, and in four weeks it has grown from eight to 20 members.

Mr Boys said the idea behind it had been "to save one guy's life".

"And we've had people open up to the group and said that they have come very close to this situation or even may have tried it," he said.

A member, who wished to remain anonymous, said it "couldn't have come at a better time in my life".

"In the three weeks that I've been part of the group, I've already created a new path for my career," he said.

"I can see a way to be financially solvent. I can see progress in my relationship with my family and ex-wife."

The Henley Man Club is hosted by The Bull On Bell Street pub every Monday

Mr Dorn said that the members shared a lot things they had not previously told anyone else.

"You can almost feel the energy where somebody has this weight off their shoulders and they just take a breath," he said.

The club will be taking on the Tough Mudder challenge on 18 May in a bid to raise funds for charity while having "a bit of fun".

It also aims to engage with volunteering in the community, and has already been approached by The Kenton Theatre and a local taxi company.

"Please come forward - this is a bunch of guys that want to do great things for the male identity," Mr Boys said.