Lincolnshire Sports Connect to Tackle Male Mental Health

Lincoln City Foundation are building a team of sports organisations to help tackle poor mental health across Lincolnshire in men aged between 18-59 years through a new ‘Team Talk’ project.

As the lead delivery organisation, the charity is utilising their brand and the power of sport and physical activity to reach males as part of the early intervention and long-term recovery pathway for men struggling with mental health.

The project will include a peer-to-peer support session facilitated by Andy’s Man Club every Monday evening at LNER Stadium, between 7.00-9.00pm from 22 March 2021. Andy’s Man Club is a registered charity that was set up in memory of Andy Roberts, a much-loved father and good friend to so many, who took his own life at the age of 23.

Across Lincolnshire, more than 75% of all suicides are men.

Charlotte Hornsby, Head of Operations at Lincoln City Foundation said:

“Mental Health is a real issue. The hard-to-read statistics of male suicide in our county highlight the work that needs to be done, and not one party can do this alone.

“We are about working collaboratively to tackle inequalities, connecting with sports partners and businesses to create sustainable, safe environments for individuals under our trusted and familiar, non-clinical brand”.

Oliver Vikse, from Andy’s Man Club said:

“We are so pleased to be working with Lincoln City to help support men in Lincolnshire by breaking down barriers and removing stigmas around mental health. You don’t need to be having suicidal thoughts or have a diagnosed mental health condition to join our session. We just want to get men talking”.

Alongside the Monday evening session, there will be a variety of activities for males to get involved in to help them get active and engaged.

Lincoln City Foundation are also connecting with Lincolnshire Cricket to help deliver activities to increase participation and charities such as YMCA Lincolnshire and Gambling with Lives to address some of the issues related to poor mental health. The charity is also linking with local services, colleges and universities to support students as they continue with their studies through the pandemic, possibly away from home.

Martyn Dobson, CEO, Lincolnshire County Cricket Ltd said:

“We are thrilled to be working with Lincoln City Foundation and partners to contribute to tackling some of Lincolnshire’s priority issues, where sport can play a pivotal role in supporting the county’s health and wellbeing recovery.”

The Lincoln-based charity are building on the success of the Team Talk project ran by Derby County Community Trust that has seen engagement with over eighty individuals across five different hub sites.

This project is supported with funding from Lincolnshire County Council

If you would like to help us continue this work for the future, through investment to fundraising specific to this programme, please email marketing@lincolncityfoundation.co.uk

To find out more about Team Talk and the support available please visit https://www.lincolncityfoundation.com/team-talk, email teamtalk@lincolncityfoundation.co.uk or call/text Ian on 07305 095690.