Three leading sports organisations Northampton Saints Foundation, Northampton Town Community Trust and the Steelbacks Foundation have joined forces with Northamptonshire Sport to launch Team-Mates, an initiative aimed at improving men’s mental health through sports and support sessions.
Launched in February, Team-Mates is designed to aid men experiencing mental health struggles, social isolation, or at risk of suicide. The programme combines walking sports with mental health support sessions to provide an accessible and engaging form of early intervention. The initiative is structured around three core components:
Weekly walking sports – held at each club venue, offering an inclusive, slower-paced version of rugby, football or cricket.
Monthly mental health support sessions – raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health in men.
Volunteer training – equipping club volunteers with mental health training to extend support across the sports community.
A new approach to mental wellbeing through sport
The walking sports sessions are open to all, regardless of skill level. These sessions encourage physical activity while fostering social connections. Each one-hour session will focus on a different sport, followed by time for refreshments and informal conversations.
Mental health education and support sessions are held at the same venues, including cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (Northampton Saints RFC), The County Ground (Steelbacks), and Sixfields Stadium (Northampton Town FC). These sessions aim to break down barriers to mental health discussions and provide practical support…
For more information about Team-Mates, contact info@northamptonshiresport.org
View Walking Sports session details HERE: https://www.northamptonshiresport.org/teammates/
READ MORE at source: https://allthingsbusiness.co.uk/professional-sports-clubs-unite-to-tackle-mens-mental-health/
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