Non-stop football match to raise awareness of men’s health
A popular football group set up for dads has renewed its partnership with a Norfolk mental health service to promote perinatal mental health and offer support to parents and parents to be.
The announcement comes just in time for The Match of the Dads non-stop, 24-hour game starting at noon on Saturday (29 June).
Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies has renewed its sponsorship with all-new home shirts carrying the message #noparentleftbehind and will offer support to the group through access to socials, events and workshops.
Kelvin Colbourn, community development team leader for Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies is involved in the group as a wellbeing advisor.
He said: “Both the service and the group are thrilled to renew the sponsoring of the shirts and, more importantly, the offering of support to dads in the group as well as any other parents out there.
“It’s well documented that men struggle to engage with services for their mental health and the message on the shirt will hopefully encourage those struggling to reach out to us for help. It’s a really good match and we are all thrilled to continue the partnership.”
Paul Godfrey, who is founder of Match of the Dads, said: “I’m delighted to continue our partnership with Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies. This campaign focuses heavily on the benefits of these kind of therapies and ensuring no parent is left behind.
“Once again, we can signpost our members and followers to the relevant professional support services that are available alongside our ongoing mission to raise awareness and destigmatise men’s mental health.”
NSFT chief nurse Anthony Deery said: “Events like this are a great way of raising awareness of men’s mental health and how men also need support in the perinatal period. We are pleased to be able to support this group with their new kit and promote the message #noparentleftbehind so people can see that NSFT is working hard towards safer, kinder and better services for all.”
Match of the Dads, an FA-affiliated five-a-side football league for dads around Norwich, started out as 12 unhappy, unhealthy, socially frustrated men meeting up on a Monday night to have a kick about.
Now, it has grown into a group of more than 180 dads, who play football and socialise every week, while also raising thousands of pounds for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) male mental health awareness and suicide prevention charity.
If you would like to support the 24-hour game and donate to CALM you can do so via Just Giving.
#Noparentleftbehind is perinatal campaign being run by Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies, encouraging parents to get the support that they need. You can find out more at www.wellbeingnands.co.uk