Danny Sculthorpe and Phil Veivers are back in the county this month to share their personal stories and deliver a mental health awareness session to football clubs across Cumbria.
Thanks to funding from the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership, the sessions in West Cumbria are free.
Ray Sempill, football development officer for Cumberland FA, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Danny and Phil back to the county to share their experiences and support local football clubs to talk about mental health. A number of local clubs are hosting the sessions which are open to players, volunteers or match officials from the area.”
Great Britain international Sculthorpe and former Workington Town coach Veivers have become familiar figures around sports clubs across the north.
They have four dates in the west of the county starting on Wednesday at the Whitehaven Miners AFC, Coach Road, Whitehaven, CA28 9DD (start 7pm).
The session is open to all – no registration required, simply turn up.
On Friday 20 January, 7pm, they move to Workington AFC, Borough Park, Workington and the session is open to all (local grassroots clubs from Allerdale have also been invited to attend)
On Thursday 26 January, 7pm, they will be at Windscale AFC, Falcon Club, Croadella Avenue, Egremont, CA22 2QN
This session is open to all over 16s involved in the club, whether players, coaches, parents and family.
On Friday 27 January, 7pm, the pair will be at Whitehaven AFC, Coach Road, Whitehaven, CA28 9DB
Luke Johnston, Whitehaven AFC Club chairman, said “As a community football club we recognise that everyone has mental health issues from time to time. It is normal and there is so much support available. I am a huge believer that exercise promotes a positive mental health.”
There are still a number of dates available for any clubs wishing to host across Cumberland.
Simon Young, Windscale AFC organiser of the event said: “I am passionate about this subject having worked in the NHS for 23 years and seen what devastating effect serious mental health issues have if they get left and people don’t open up and talk and take that first step.”
“These sessions are brilliant to highlight this problem especially among young men. These two guys are leading the fight to get people to talk and try and prevent as many suicides as they can.”
State of Mind Sport is a charity that harnesses the power of sport to promote positive mental health among our sportsmen and women, fans and wider communities, and ultimately to prevent suicide.
The charity was established in 2011 following the tragic death of Terry Newton, former Wigan Warriors and Great Britain international rugby league player who took his own life in September 2010.
State of Mind Sport’s founders were determined to prevent similar tragedies in other communities, by raising awareness of mental health concerns, tackling stigma, providing mental fitness education and resilience, and by signposting individuals and families to timely support during tough times.
Cumberland FA have worked in partnership with Every Life Matters, Cumbria for a number of seasons to raise the awareness. The local charity promotes Suicide Safer Communities and provides Suicide Bereavement Support across Cumbria.
