Burnley FC In the Community offer popular Claret in Mind Football Sessions

Burnley FC In the Community offer popular Claret in Mind Football Sessions

In partnership with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) and Creative Football, Burnley FC in the Community promotes positive mental health, provides participants with support and a chance to make new friends. Held at The Leisure Box, BFCitC’s state-of-the-art facility in Brierfield, each Tuesday afternoon, sessions are free to attend.

Claret in Mind aim to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing, tackle social isolation and inclusion as well as physical activity in a welcoming environment. One in four people experience mental health issues in their life, and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Claret in Mind have gone the extra mile to serve our community with support from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) and Creative Football.

Danny, who has been attending Claret in Mind football sessions since July 2021, feels the programme has developed his confidence:

“I’ve got a bit fitter, lost a bit of weight and have become better at football, so it’s been really good. […] It’s helped me gain confidence and meet new people, so I’m really enjoying it every week. […] I have had a lot of confidence issues before but since I’ve started to come here, I’ve been speaking to a lot more people without getting nervous about it. […] I’m trying to bring new people down with me each week, so hopefully they can enjoy the sessions as much as I do.”

Lee Harvey, from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, added:

“This is our football group. It’s fun, enjoyable and promotes social inclusion which is building a life beyond the illness. […] They meet new friends, get connected with people and it’s a purpose for them all to get out and about, chatting to people from different backgrounds, so we all get involved, it is fantastic.”

By working with Creative Football, BFCitC are proud to partner the Lancashire FA Project of the Year award winners, in delivering Claret in Mind football sessions. The session was led by Lee Adams with support from Wayne Beck, Paul Hardman and Paul Davies, which is open to anyone who is interested in coming down.

Wayne Beck commented:

“Creative Football was set up off the back of a social inclusion football league that we started in Blackburn, by getting people together who wouldn’t access services normally. […] Men sometimes don’t talk about how they are feeling, and football is such a great game to get people involved, so we started the social inclusion sessions in Blackburn, then we contacted Claret in Mind to work in partnership to support people in Burnley. […] We’ve seen a massive change in the mental health of people as soon as you pass them a football, they are someone’s team-mate, so we’ll support the person with their needs, such as housing benefits, heating, furniture or just someone to talk to, because a lot of people at the sessions are socially isolated, so we want to keep building this and help people get qualifications. […] The partnership with Burnley FC In the Community is flourishing, and it’s a fantastic initiative.”

Paul Hardman added:

“We’ve had a relationship with Burnley FC In the Community’s programme, we’re trying to provide more support throughout Lancashire generally. Some of the lads used to come to sessions in Blackburn but have moved over here since, and it’s a lovely, supportive group. […] The lads come down every week in all weather, so the routine is really important to them. We’re really pleased that we can work in the community and have partnerships with Burnley FC In the Community which reinforces the great work.”

Lee Adams, BFCitC Youth Services Manager, said:

“The Claret in Mind sessions have been running for just under eight months now, and it’s using the power of football to get adults, predominantly male, out doing something positive because they suffer from mental health issues. It’s an opportunity to communicate with one another and have that camaraderie which supports their journey. […] It’s building relationships and friendships from these sessions and it is really needed at this time.”