Club working with the Town Foundation and Andy’s Man Club
- Game will help highlight the work of local mental health charities
- Members of Andy’s Man Club’s Huddersfield in attendance
- Information about the Town Foundation’s work in this area
Saturday’s game against Sheffield United at the John Smith’s Stadium will be used to raise awareness of the importance of looking after your Mental Health.
Every year, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem. That's hundreds of football players, and thousands of football fans.
However, it can still be difficult to know what to do or who to talk to, even though the stigma around mental health is constantly decreasing.
Andy’s Man Club are a Men’s Mental Health Charity, offering free-to-attend talking groups for men and challenging the stigmas around Male Mental Health. Originally set up in nearby Halifax by people affected by suicide, they have become one of the most important organisations working to help men today. Their group sessions are run exclusively by unpaid volunteers, and they have close to 100 clubs across the UK that all follow the same format. Used by nearly 2000 men a week, their local clubs include Huddersfield, Brighouse, Cleckheaton, Batley, Dewsbury, Ainley Top, Halifax, Bradford, Keighley and Leeds.
Members from Andy’s Man Club’s Huddersfield, alongside their branded car and Gazebo, will be situated next to the Community Hub, opposite the Core Stand Lower Tier, on Saturday, talking to anyone who wants to know more. Fans from both clubs will be handing out leaflets too.
Town’s match day programme, ‘The Terrier’, will also look to raise awareness about the importance of Mental Health. The Sheffield United edition will include an exclusive interview with Duane Holmes, who discusses his excellent form this season as well as his advice on how to come out of the other side of difficult periods.
We will also highlight the work of the Town Foundation in the field of Mental Health, with a special case study on the ‘Walking Football’ programme. This gives adults aged 50 and above an opportunity to play sport and meet/socialise with new people.
As the name suggests, no running or jogging is allowed with or without the ball! In addition, tackles and physical collisions are kept low impact. As well as the physical benefits, walking football is great for improving mental health. This is vital, as research published by Mind in June 2020 suggests that one in four people in England will experience a mental health problem each year.
Back in October 2021, Club Ambassadors Andy Booth and Michael Hefele surprised players at a session! You can see what they had to say, alongside comments from 69-year-old participant Michael below.
🧠 Ahead of #WorldMentalHeathDay, our Walking Footballers were joined by @htafc Ambassadors Andy Booth and @michaelhefele!
— Huddersfield Town Foundation (@htafcfoundation) October 9, 2021
They took part in a competitive but good-natured match, with plenty of light-hearted fun had by all.
More details 👇#htafc | @EFL | #DoOneThing
The only way we can lower the devastating statistics that come from not talking to anyone, is to talk to somebody! It’s ok to talk, but it is also important to listen!
Here are some organisations that could help:
NHS 111
Phone: 111
@: www.111.NHS.UK/
Single Point Of Access Team
Phone: 01924 316830
@: www.healthwatchkirklees.co.uk/services/single-point-of-access-spa-batley-1/
IAPT Kirklees (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies)
Phone: 01484 343700
@: www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/services/iapt-kirklees/
Samaritans
Phone: 116 123
@: www.samaritans.org
Support To Recovery (S2R)
Phone: 01484 539531
@: www.s2r.org.uk
Andy’s Man Club Huddersfield
Online group meets every Monday at 7pm
@: www.andysmanclub.co.uk
Email: info@andysmanclub.co.uk
Andy’s Man Club Leeds
Online group meets every Monday at 7pm
@: www.andysmanclub.co.uk
Calm
Phone: 0800 585 858
@: www.calmzone.net
Mind
Phone: 0300 123 33393
Text: 86463
@: www.mind.org.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0800 9177 650
@: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212
@: www.ukna.org
Women’s Centre
Phone: 01484 450866
@: www.womencentre.org.uk/
