Carlisle United Community Sports Trust will host a men’s mental health awareness tournament this month.
The eight-team tournament, on Friday May 29 at Brunton Park, will bring together groups from across the city to raise the profile of men’s mental health support in the community.
The tournament will be available to watch from the stands for the cost of a small donation to charity.
Teams taking part are:
- Andy’s Man Club
- Silent Footprints Foundation
- Carlisle United Supporters Trust
- Tubby FC
- The Well
- World Group
- United Utilities
- Man v Fat
The Northern Competitions Fan Zone will be open from 4pm until the event finishes at 9pm.
John Watt & Son will open its container, providing hot drinks, draught beer, soft drinks, sweets and crisps.
There will also be stalls in the Northern Competitions Fan Zone to highlight mental health provision in the area from organisations including Samaritans, Together We, Every Life Matters, Carlisle Eden Mind, Silent Footprints Foundation, The Well and Andy’s Man Club.
The event has been organised in collaboration with Silent Footprints and will be a special day to highlight and promote mental health provision in our area.
Director of governance, safeguarding and EDI, Teresa Mulholland, said: “This event is particularly important in Cumbria due to the county’s long-standing mental health challenges and high suicide rates.
“Men are statistically less likely to seek support, often due to stigma and isolation.
“We hope that by combining football with mental health awareness and information sharing, the event will provide an accessible, community-led opportunity to promote wellbeing, reduce loneliness and encourage peer support, with an opportunity to signpost men to local services.”
Jennifer Taylor, of the Silent Footprints Foundation, added: “The Silent Footprints Foundation is proud to be working with Teresa to hold this tournament.
“We hope to encourage open conversations around men’s mental health, including the often unspoken impact of bereavement following pregnancy or infant loss.
“Through football and community, we hope to raise awareness of the local support services available to those who may be struggling in silence.”
Carlisle Glass has donated the winner’s trophy and Scott and Jade Taylor from the Cumberland FA are referees.
