Mental Health Support For Cantabs RUFC
The Pitch
Problem statement
Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 & people under the age of 35 in the UK. More broadly, 1 in 4 people in the UK will struggle with their mental health each year. Rugby clubs provide the perfect setting in which to help educate & support the mental health of individuals within the local community, however, they often lack the skills or tools to be able to do so effectively. There is also little to no funding or support around this from either the sports governing bodies, or local authorities.
Solution
We’re on a mission to save lives by placing mental health leads at rugby clubs & providing them with a toolkit of free mental health resources. We currently support over 1,200 rugby clubs, the majority of which are in the UK. During the 24/25 season we want to extend the support we offer by providing; Mental health first aid training. Club wide mental health sessions. Youth specific training session. CPD UK accredited mental health training for over 18s. Mental health training for under 18s. Signposting content. Access to a wellbeing check-in platform. Support setting up men’s talking groups. Installation of a suicide prevention tool on wifi networks. Access to mental health resources.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
At LooseHeadz, we have been providing mental health support to rugby clubs for over 7 years, during which time we have seen some incredible stories emerge, for example Beth who believes that LooseHeadz saved her life -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag6IoyvfSzk We are backed by a panel of 14 mental health experts, & have the support of over 50 top flight ambassadors, as well as the RFU, WRU, SRU & British & Irish Lions to help ensure our message gets through to members at rugby clubs. We have already proven the concept, & have an existing network of clubs to work with, but are keen to extend the support we offer to clubs this season by providing even more resources & training.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Rugby specific mental health first aid certification for 3 members of the club. | £1,500 |
| Introduction to mental health session available for all members aged 16+. | £400 |
| Half day, on-pitch session for youth teams. | £600 |
| Provision of existing tools within the toolkit. | £200 |
| Signposting materials for use around the club. | £100 |
| Ongoing administrative costs - platform hosting, dealing with enquiries, etc. | £200 |
Beneficiaries
350 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
We aim to achieve the following goals with this funding; Save lives - with suicide being the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK, our primary focus is helping to reduce this devastating statistic by providing more people with the tools & resources to improve their mental health. Unite communities - rugby clubs are at the heart of local communities,, people of all ages, genders & backgrounds can unite within a rugby club. We want to harness the power of community within rugby clubs to leave a lasting impact in local areas. Leave a lasting legacy - by ensuring that each partner club has a minimum of 3 mental health first aid qualified individuals, we can help to leave a lasting impact within rugby clubs. Use sport to drive change - playing rugby has been shown to be hugely beneficial for supporting people’s mental health, but we believe it can also provide the impetus to open up conversations around mental health, & ultimately lead to people seeking help.
Track record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT6RntWVwHE&pp=ygUSbG9vc2VoZWFkeiBjaGVzdGVy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAO4tnL5YY4&pp=ygUTbG9vc2VoZWFkeiBzaWRtb3V0aA%3D%3D