Grassroots football clubs in Oxfordshire are introducing a new initiative aimed at raising awareness around mental health.
The program is scheduled to launch at Kidlington FC on Thursday, April 16, beginning with a pilot session led by The Joey Beauchamp Foundation.
The initiative is being delivered in partnership with Oxford United in the Community and supported by the Oxfordshire FA. It also brings together three local grassroots clubs—Kidlington Youth, Kidlington FC, and Garden City in a collaborative effort to promote mental health awareness within the football community.
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The workshop is part of a wider initiative designed to help grassroots coaches and volunteers develop a better understanding of mental health.
The workshop focuses on helping participants identify early signs of mental distress and respond appropriately, guided by the The Football Association’s established safeguarding frameworks.
The initiative also underscores the important role that grassroots football plays in supporting and strengthening local communities.
Coaches and club officials often act as trusted and influential figures in the lives of young people.
The pilot program is designed to give them the confidence and practical skills needed to spot early changes in behaviour, mood, or engagement, initiate supportive conversations, understand their safeguarding responsibilities, and guide young people and their families toward the right support services.
It emphasizes that coaches are not expected to diagnose issues or provide therapy, but rather to identify concerns, respond appropriately, document them, and refer individuals to the right support services.
