The Stockport County Community Foundation, as part of their Mental Health Programme, have been delivering Football Coaching Sessions to Service users from the Rehabilitation and High Support Directorate (RHSD) in Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Stockport County Community Foundation’s Disability Football Development Officer, Adrian Rigby-Bates and Coach Matti Oates have been delivering weekly mental health football coaching sessions at Heathfield House in Stockport.
The Monday sessions are regularly attended by service users from Heathfield House, Tatton Unit, Hurst and Prospect Place. The sessions started running over 2 years ago with 3 to 4 players attending. Over time this has grown and there are now 18 players who regularly attend.
Service users report improvements in their social, physical, and mental health. They identify stronger friendships, staying away from negative habits, developing a meaningful routine, increasing their confidence, as well as raising their fitness levels.
Adrian Rigby-Bates, Disability Football Development Officer said:
“The project brings together people with mental health difficulties, extending opportunity and choice; promoting a healthy lifestyle; improving self-esteem and confidence; building fitness and new skills; reducing social isolation by enabling social networking and building new friendships; aswell as everybody enjoying themselves and having fun”.
Dr Rachel Chin, Clinical Psychologist in RHSD responded:
“It’s great to see the impact the football sessions have on the service users. The sessions provide a sense of community, belonging, and purpose. The coaches have supported service users to believe in themselves and to recognise their talents, strengths, and skills. This has supported their performance on the pitch and in other aspects of life”.
Helen Foster-Grime, Vice Chairman of Stockport County Community Foundation added:
“We are very proud that our team is working together with our partners in transforming lives and helping people in our community fighting mental health issues”.
Please have a watch of the recent video below, showing the sessions and the positive impact that they are having on the service users.
If anyone would like to get involved and come along to our Monday mental health football sessions or requires further information then please do contact Adrian Rigby-Bates, Disability Football Development Officer for the Foundation on 0161 286 8888 (option 3).
Alternatively email [email protected]