Kent FA CALM Club
Kent FA have united with CALM UK to raise awareness of suicide in adults and get people talking and supporting each other. We recognise that using football to share responsibility in tackling the stigma around mental health issues and raise awareness of suicide can help.
Kent FA CALM Club
Kent FA have united with CALM UK to raise awareness of suicide in adults and get people talking and supporting each other. We recognise that using football to share responsibility in tackling the stigma around mental health issues and raise awareness of suicide can help.
Kent FA CALM Club
Kent FA have united with CALM UK to raise awareness of suicide in adults and get people talking and supporting each other. We recognise that using football to share responsibility in tackling the stigma around mental health issues and raise awareness of suicide can help.
Community & Health
We are an inclusive sport for all education focused organisation using the Powers of Sport to Inspire, Motivate and Educate everyone to build a better life for themselves and unite the communities in which they live.
Kent FA CALM Club
Our Kent FA CALM club was started in July 2021 at Cherry Orchard Ball Court, Herne. Offering a free opportunity for men to access a social kick around to raise awareness of their mental health. The club aims it values on creating connections, having fun, and staying physically and mentally healthy using the game we love. Over 40 people have attended, and the numbers outgrew the courts.
Herne Bay Youth FC kindly found some space on a Monday evening for the club to continue with its new members. The sessions now regularly have over 20 men attending each week focusing on raising their awareness of their mindset. The club has x 4 trained Mental Health First Aiders which were funded by Sports Connect and Changing Minds Kent as part of their partnership. Based on the makeup of the group and the lack of playing opportunities for the age range, we have focused the group on those aged 35+.
“A friend made me aware of CALM CLUB and it straight away appealed to me. I stopped playing football due to injury’s few years back and this was the opportunity to get back playing in a more relaxed surrounding. Meeting likeminded great lads has been a bonus and it’s all been such a huge positive for both my physical and more importantly mental health. I wanted to become a MHFA to gain a greater awareness of mental health, and to be able to help those around me who may need support. Every one of us would have suffered or been around people who have struggled with mental health and being able to understand and assist can only be a positive.”
“I attend CALM CLUB because it’s a great place to be when it comes to mental wellbeing. The sport we do is popular, and it brings people closer together knowing each other’s background and getting a better understanding what people go through and how u can reflect and support each other while having fun. The reason why I became a MHFA is because I want to ensure the best for people I work with or attend sporting events with because I can identify If there are any problems. When understanding their difficulties, I am able to support them by talking to them in a sensible matter and providing the best possible support”.
“I became a MHFA to gain knowledge of types of mental health, the causes, triggers, signs of deteriorating mental health and how to assist and support when needed. I may not win every tackle, score with every shot demand the killer through ball but I can lend an ear, listen, and understand on and off the pitch.”
“Raising awareness of mental health is a passion of mine and learning more about the mind has helped me to understand myself and others better. Combining this with Sport gives an ideal opportunity to start supportive conversations and raise awareness”.
