THE Man Cave has moved to online meetings and is open to anybody from anywhere looking for support.

Launched in 2019, the Man Cave was started as a place for men to feel comfortable enough to come and have a conversation.

However, with the pandemic forcing everything online, the group merged with Make Your Light Shine to extend their services and provide support to anyone who needed it via Zoom.

Max Nicholson, a founder of the group, said: "We were at a stage where things were growing, the numbers were consistently good then the pandemic hit.

"As with everybody we thought this will be a few weeks, let's just not make any massive changes at the moment, postpone it for the time being and get it going again in a few weeks.

"Obviously that's not been the case and it's gone on a lot longer so we moved it online maybe a month or so after things shut down and we combined with another group called Make Your Light Shine that are also supported by Wellbeing Scotland.

"Between us, online, we ended up having double figures for our calls, and I think at one point we set up two calls a week."

Of course, moving things online is never simple but Max and the team were there to help everybody get started and settled.

He continued: "There was a bit of trial and error, it can be a difficult platform, it can be quite intimidating and daunting if all eyes are on you.

"It differs from the group because in the group setting we can go into a quiet corner [for a chat].

"It got to a point where it was consistently attended and things were going well, friendships were forming."

The group were able to get back together in person for a few meetings when the rules allowed them to do so.

Then the second lockdown happened and support moved to phone calls, either for a quick check-up or a half an hour chat.

Now they're back to weekly online meetings, Max added: "There's no pressure on anyone to speak or offer any kind of conversation, they're welcome to just listen in.

"It is an environment where you can log in and not feel obliged to say anything, and listen and take things from it.

"It can be quite daunting, so we'll check in, maybe a text, email or Facebook message just to check everything's alright.

"If we don't hear from someone we expect to be on, we do, as a rule, check in on them to make sure they're alright."

Despite the name, the group is open to anybody and Max is keen to say everybody is welcome.

"It's something we'd been looking to do for a while anyway," Max added, referring to the inclusion of women to the group. "The environment we create is very welcoming and I think it was a natural time to open it to anybody.

"We'd like to think we've created a very welcoming environment, with no judgement and a safe space where people can open up in their own time.

"People are surprised at how much a simple conversation can help, we try to put a positive spin on everything we do."

The Man Cave meets every Wednesday at 12pm via Zoom.

Visit facebook.com/themancavealloa for more information and meeting details.