Feature

Manchester man launches ‘dad bod’ calendar for men’s mental health charity

Daisy Jackson - 11th November 2021

A local man has persuaded 13 ‘Average Joes’ to strip off for a calendar celebrating ‘dad bods’, all to raise money for a good cause.

A group of men including builders, factory workers and property managers have whipped their kit off for the calendar, the profits of which will go to men’s mental health charity Andy’s Mans Club.

They were all brought together by Newton Heath-born Paul J Goddard after he paid a visit to one of the charity’s talking groups.

38-year-old Paul said that he ‘just wants to help’, while raising awareness for men’s mental health – something he has struggled with in his own life.

He said: “I’ve had anxiety, panic attacks, depression. I had a hard upbringing and a lot of trauma in life that was out of my control.

“I suffered my first panic attack when I was about 16, and then they came so often. I pretty much had a mental breakdown at just 16 years old.

“I was ringing an ambulance every day because I didn’t know what was happening to me, no one could explain it, I was a lost cause.

“If I can prevent that from happening to other people, then that’s what I want to do.”

The calendar itself has been shot and designed by Paul himself, using a basement bar in the Northern Quarter as a backdrop.

He found his gang of nude dudes by putting a call out on social media, but says that persuading them to strip off was a ‘b*llache’.

“It’s not easy to get Average Joes to take their kit off!” he said.

“Some were braver than others but it ended up being a really good couple of days on the shoot. 

“I’m a hella confident person, I’ve done extras work, been on stage, performed poetry. I just want people to feel the same way.

“The overall outcome I’m really pleased with. It’s quite a brave thing to do, to take your kit off, and none of us are exactly Instagram models.”

But he hopes that the calendar will champion male bodies of all shapes, sizes and ages.

Each month has been themed around mental health to remind men the check in with themselves, and includes regular links back to Andy’s Mans Club.

Of the charity, Paul said: “Everyone’s so great there, and there are men using the centres who have been through way worse than what I went through.

“My heart went out to them. I just want to help.”

The calendars will cost £15 each, sold through the God Bod social media channels, with all profits going to Andy’s Mans Club.

Only limited numbers are available, but Paul hopes he can raise thousands this year and expand to other cities in the near future.