Cambridge United staff given EFL & Mind ‘On Your Side’ Mental Health training.
The training was designed in partnership with the English Football League (EFL) and national mental health charity MIND to harness the positive power of football to raise awareness of mental health, and to provide a platform to de-stigmatise the issue within sport and beyond.
Cambridge United staff spanning all departments at the football club attended the 2-hour workshop, which highlighted the impact of poor mental health, provided effective strategies to take of the self and others, and promoted positive conversations to increase confidence when speaking about mental health.
The ‘On Your Side’ training for all employees at the football club is an important step in Cambridge United’s commitment to being a mentally healthy football club.
Ian Mather, Cambridge United Chief Executive Officer, said “As a Club we know how important the issue of mental health is and this programme has our full support. As a staff we can make a real difference as to how mental health is perceived and we are very keen to do that."
Darryl Coakley, Mental Health Officer for Cambridge United Community Trust, said “Embedding positive mental health within the workforce at Cambridge United is a vital component of our mental health charter - raising awareness and normalising conversations regarding our own mental health and that of others is a key step in that process.”
Earlier this season, Cambridge United announced the Club’s Mental Health Charter in which it committed to doing everything it can as a ‘mentally healthy club’ to promote positive mental fitness, - recognising the importance of good mental health for performance and also the positive role that football can play more widely on the issue in society.
The charter and work of the Club around Mental Health, aims to cover five key groups within the Club and the City – players, coaches, supporters, schools and community. To read more about the detail of Cambridge United’s charter to be a mentally healthy football club, please click here.
Cambridge United are proud to be joining all Football League and Premier Clubs in action this weekend, in support of the Heads Together campaign and to raise awareness about the importance of discussing mental health more openly across society.
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