A men’s mental health project for football lovers continues in September at Ketts Park on Tuesdays from 1:30-2:30pm.

The project is called All to Play For and is a partnership project between Active Norfolk, NSFT, South Norfolk & Broadland District Councils and sports delivery organisations. It offers free football sessions every week throughout the year. The football sessions act as a hook for engagement for men who are either at risk of or who are managing pre-existing mental health issues. Given that men are more likely to be clinically disengaged, the project uses physical activity and peer support as the platform to engage and support. Sessions are friendly, inclusive and adopt a really strong peer-to-peer support approach providing a safe environment for any man 18+ to meet other like-minded men, exercise and become more connected within their community. There is no eligibility criteria to attend sessions, any man whether engaged in support services or not may attend and no pre-signup is needed, the sessions will be drop-in with a short questionnaire to complete on arrival.

Organiser Aaron Roberts updated us on Wymondham’s group: “In total we have had 20 men attend, with a group of 10-15 men regularly taking part weekly ranging from 21-65 years old. The group have set up their own chat group outside of the session and have socialised outside. It has provided new connections for local residents new to the area and acted as a regular form of activity.”

This can be hugely beneficial for men accessing mental health services to meet other like-minded men and to connect them to the support locally they need. For any questions or to get involved email Sam Watts on sam.watts@activenorfolk.org or Aaron Roberts on aaron.roberts@activenorfolk.org.