A local mental health charity is calling on men in Macclesfield to get involved in a new weekly meeting aimed at providing a safe, judgement-free space for people to share their feelings.

Having launched last year, Mentell Macclesfield has now started a big push in the town to try and encourage as many locals as possible to attend it's Thursday get together at the Big Room CIC.

The group, known as a 'circle', gives local men the opportunity to voice their feelings, concerns, or anything they want to get off their chest.

But there is no obligation on attendees to share at all, and people are allowed to come and just listen.

Originally launched before the pandemic, Mentell itself has over 8 face-to-face groups across the country.

Mentell meet every Thursday evening at The Big Room CIC on Pickford Street. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

And Macclesfield-based trustee and co-founder Peter Longbottom is encouraging locals to get involved.

"We are regular guys - that is the 'magic' of it," he told Nub News. 

"You sit down with a bunch of other regular guys. It is normal people and we take our masks off. 

"There is no judgement and this key. 

"It doesn't matter what your background is; race, ethnicity, religion, where you are from. In the group we are all equal, we all listen, and we all show each other respect. 

Alfreds Macclesfield is one of 31 pubs who have 'turned their bar blue'. 45% of Mentell referrals come from a beer mat. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"We just want people to know that we are here."

The charity - which temporarily went online during the COVID-19 lockdowns - is founded on seven principles: safety, confidentiality, respect, free of judgement, free of commitment, free of advice and freedom to share or listen.

"Guys share in the circle in a way that they probably don't with anyone else," Peter added. 

"We actually talk about how we feel about what is going on, and we allow people to be vulnerable. 

"And that is a really unique thing."

Macclesfield: They also have groups in nearby Stockport and Congleton. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Chair of trustees Alanna Atkinson also emphasised the fact that men who attend the circle are under no obligation to divulge anything they are not comfortable to share.

But she encouraged locals to come and give the group a try at least once.

"We are very fortunate to be in Macclesfield and have that group," she said. 

"We have seen the need for the group. 

"We want to reach more men, and let them know we are here. 

31 pubs in Macclesfield currently have Mentell material in them. Their internal stats suggest men are six times more likely to turn up when there's a presence of the 'Turn Your Bar Blue' campaign, which gets Mentell visible in pubs. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"So we are doing a big campaign at the moment to attract people. It is a big area. It would be good to let people know there is a circle here.

"You are never alone. The biggest step is walking through the door, and everything else falls away after that."

Group facilitator Nick also gave a rundown of how a typical evening would run.

He said every evening starts by reinforcing the seven principles, and setting the boundaries and what to expect. There is then an opportunity for people to share, and listen, with a break for refreshments in the middle of the night.

Nick also stressed there was no issue too big or too small for the Mentell circle.

Macclesfield Nub News takes a photo of Nick, Pete and Alanna. (Image - Mentell)

"There is as much benefit in listening to other people, as there can be in sharing your own stories," he explained.

He added: "Life can be hard sometimes. It can get you down. 

"It is so useful to know there are other people going through similar things.

"It could we work, it could be family, it could be something even bigger than that."

To find out more about Mentell, please visit the website HERE or the Mentell Macclesfield Facebook page HERE.