A specially branded bus is set to visit Hull, offering local men the chance to step on board for a private chat or a friendly conversation about their mental health, with respected charity Andy’s Man Club.
A special bus, branded with the charity’s logo and signage will visit Hull Interchange Bay 1, from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday 6th May. Andy’s Man Club offers free-to-attend, peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online. They want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and to help men through the power of conversation.
Local bus operator, Stagecoach East Midlands, is a keen supporter of the organisation and, last year, wrapped two of its vehicles, in Hull, with their branding, in the hope that more men will realise that #ITSOKAYTOTALK.
The partnership was struck with Sean Gill, Regional Lead for East of England at Andy’s Man Club. Sean previously worked as a Driver at Stagecoach’s Grimsby Depot – he originally picked up a leaflet about Andy’s Man Club in the Bus Station. From there, he went on to join Andy’s Man Club and to open a club in Grimsby.
Zachary McAskill, Operations Director of Stagecoach East Midlands, said: “At Stagecoach, we’re all about supporting the communities we serve, so we hope that local men will want to attend this event in Hull.
“This initiative is part of our broader commitment to mental-health awareness and ensuring that everyone feels comfortable reaching out for help. In Hull, as in all of our service areas, ‘It’s OK to talk’ is a message we want to carry to every corner of our community.”
Sean added: “Every conversation we have offers the opportunity to reach that one man who needs to know he’s not alone. Andy’s Man Club exists to break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. With every conversation, every shared story, and every mile our branded buses travel, we push our message further: It’s OK To Talk. To find your nearest club, visit www.andysmanclub.co.uk.”
— To find out more about local bus routes and services, and to buy before you board and to track your local bus, you can download the Stagecoach Bus App from www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/stagecoachbusapp.