Football’s coming home for Mental Health Awareness Week
The UK’s largest mental health campaign runs from 13 to 19 May. The theme this year is ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, the Trust’s Health and Wellbeing Team has organised a mixed gender football match between Trust staff and a ‘United Cornwall Football Club’ team.
The match is among a number of events being put on for Trust staff during Mental Health Awareness Week. This includes a number of face-to-face talks with the Wellbeing Team and a ‘coffee corner’ talk on Teams. There is also a wellbeing walk on the south west coast path taking place on Thursday. For the full list of events, email the Wellbeing Team.
The game will take place at Nanpean Football Club on Wednesday 15 May and kicks off at 6.30pm.
Jack Greaves runs weekly social football sessions for people of any age, ability, or gender.
“Our games are designed to create an inclusive weekly kick about, bringing people together through the game we love.
“Whether players come to lose weight, make friends, or just blow off steam, it does not matter to us.
“We are really excited about putting a session on for our fantastic NHS staff.”
Gary Wheildon is a health and wellbeing practitioner for the Trust.
““Physical activity and movement is well documented as a highly effective way of managing and improving our mental health.
“Football is an excellent vehicle for combining physical activity with social interaction - another well-known antidote for mental health issues.
“So, we have arranged this very friendly match against United Cornwall Football Club for our staff.
“Mental Health Awareness Week is the perfect opportunity to showcase events like this, but what we hope is that activities like this match plant the seed for more sustained involvement over a longer period of time.
“We’re really grateful to Jack and also the lovely people up at Nanpean Football Club for enabling this to happen.
“Absolutely everyone is welcome to either play or support, so please just let us know if you fancy it!”
Admission to the game is free and there will be refreshments available from the clubhouse.