The programme is part of Cambridge United’s announcement in July 2018 of their plan to become a ‘Mentally Healthy’ Football Club. The Mind Your Head programme has seen staff and players from the League Two side visit six schools in the city, working alongside pupils in the classroom.
More than 500 pupils aged 12-14 have so far taken part in targeted lessons covering areas including wellbeing, social media and coping with stress. Over the course of six weeks, six one-hour sessions have included presentations, Q&As and watching videos in which male and female players revealed their own experiences with mental health.
The aim of the scheme was to increase the participants’ knowledge of mental health issues, improve resilience and understand the importance of good mental health. An evaluation of the programme, carried out by Leeds Beckett University’s Carnegie School of Education, observed that all the pupils taking part had benefited from increased awareness and knowledge of the topic.
Ben Szreter, CEO of Cambridge United Community Trust, said “The project has been a great success so far. The schools we have worked with have been so welcoming and it’s great that football is able to contribute positively to the young people’s understanding of their own mental health.”
“It has become increasingly obvious that mental health is an area that needs real social attention. Our programme aimed to gain young people’s interest in the topic by using the context of professional football and we are delighted that so far that seems to have been effective.
Cambridge United Community Trust have confirmed that Mind Your Head would continue again in the current academic year with new pupils from the schools previously delivered in and also and expansion into more schools around Cambridgeshire. Mind Your Head has been funded by donations from Inc., the MindEd Trust and private individuals.