To kick off Mental Health Awareness Week, local charity Kick Start FC hosted a remarkable Mental Health Awareness Football Tournament at The Sports & Social Club in Ludgershall, Wiltshire, uniting players and spectators to highlight the importance of mental health.

Sponsored by local business Stannah, the tournament featuring 50 participants from Kick Start’s men’s, women’s, and walking football therapy sessions, created a space for conversation and community support around mental health issues through the unifying power of football.

The mixed-gender event offered more than just friendly competition—it served as a testament to the therapeutic potential of sport. Kick Start FC, known for using football as a tool for mental health therapy, provided a welcoming environment for individuals to connect, build confidence, and improve both their mental and physical well-being.

The tournament embodied these values, with players not only engaging in the sport but also supporting one another, sharing their experiences, and promoting the message that mental health problems are common, and no one should face them alone.

Michael Cunningham, a trustee of Kick Start FC, expressed his gratitude: “This is our fourth year running the tournament and each year I get blown away by the amount of open conversations between our service users – the football is pretty good too! This tournament aims to serve a reminder that there is a community who are willing to welcome and listen to anybody that wants to feel heard”.

As the final whistle blew, the tournament stood as a powerful reminder of the importance of addressing mental health, and the role that community and sport can play in supporting those in need. The day’s success was not only measured in goals scored but in the connections made, the conversations started, and the lives impacted.

Later this month the charity will be heading to The Den, home of Millwall Football Club to participate at the Mental Health World Club. This year is extra special as the organisers have introduced the first ever Women’s Mental Health Cup. With two teams from Kick Start FC representing Belgium and Brazil, the charity looks forward to shining an even bigger spotlight on mental health and suicide prevention.

For more information on Kick Start FC’s work or to get involved, visit their website www.kickstartfc.org

Source: https://loveandover.com/football-therapy-in-action-at-kick-start-fc-mental-health-awareness-tournament/