A man in Clanfield has started a men’s social group as a safe space to talk about anything and everything.

Tea with Tony is the brainchild of Tony Carter, a volunteer at The Clanfield Centre, where the new group will meet on the last Thursday of the month at the cafe with free tea and biscuits.

Tony lost his wife four years ago at Rowans Hospice and the support from them along with volunteering at The Centre sparked an idea.

“When volunteering you notice things, you see people come in lonely, so you try to talk to them,” Tony said.

“I've had a couple of people open up over a cup of tea, and I thought we could do this on a bigger scale. It is important that it's just men, because sometimes men won't talk in front of women.”

After his wife’s passing, Tony got involved in village life, volunteering at the local bowls club in addition to his three years at the Centre and used to help out at Rowans.

Thanks to the Centre’s support and engagement with different people in the community, Tony says he has been dragged out of his “dark place”.

He added: “If you go home with a smile on your face at the end of the day, because you spoke to someone and helped them, you feel good with yourself.”

Natasha Glover, Clanfield Cente manager, said: “We are very excited to host Tea with Tony, as we feel this is something that is needed in the local community.”

The group meets at 7pm and if successful, Tony and the Centre will consider holding it fortnightly.

The Clanfield Centre is run by the Community First charity and hosts various groups, including an MS support group, a breast-feeding support group, social prescribers, coffee mornings and more.