Aberdeen FC Community Trust Raises £28,500 for Mental Health

Aberdeen FC Community Trust Raises £28,500 for Mental Health

March marked the first anniversary since life changed forever for the family and friends of father-of-two Ross Scaife.  On the outside, the popular Aberdonian appeared to have it all – a loving family, plenty of friends and a good job in the oil and gas sector where he was thriving. But how we seem to others and how we feel inside are not always the same, and Ross unexpectedly took his own life after a Stereophonics concert in Aberdeen. The unexpected tragedy has left an enormous void in the family’s lives.

Despite their heartbreak, Karen and the family vowed not to let Ross’ death be in vain. They launched a campaign to support men’s mental health and child bereavement and raised almost £21,000 in the weeks following their loss.

On Saturday 29th April they held The White Feather Ball to remember Ross and raise money for mental health as well as boost awareness. The White Feather Ball raised a staggering £28,500 and proceeds will go to the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) to support their work in suicide prevention, the Sunrise Partnership to help them in supporting children and young people through loss and bereavement and a donation of £9,500 will go to Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust (AFCCT) to support their work in improving the wellbeing of the local community.

“Mental health is something we all have, and it will fluctuate in how good or bad it is throughout our lives. But the problem is mental ill health is often very hard to detect, both for the individual themselves and those around them.”

Karen Scaife, Ross Scaife’s wife

The White Feather Ball opened up conversations about mental health. During the event, guests were asked to make a simple but powerful promise to be mindful of their mental health, trust that it’s ok to share how they feel and ask for help when they need it, and support and encourage others to do the same.

“We are delighted to receive such a wonderful donation from the White Feather Ball in support of our work in mental wellbeing which includes the Changing Room project. The Changing Room is an innovative 12-week-course that invites men to step down from the stands and into the heart of their club, with the aim of improving mental health.

[…] The programme targets men aged 30-64 and works to help them self-manage their own mental health whilst also giving them access to a strong support network. The course uses football, along with a variety of other activities, to explore areas that may challenge them, such as how they view themselves, think and feel. The Changing Room is a SAMH project that works in partnership with the SPFL Trust and football club charities and trusts, across Scotland.”

Liz Bowie, Chief Executive of AFC Community Trust 

In partnership with The SPFL Trust, AFCCT will be running the next block of The Changing Room programme, free of charge, from May to August with spaces currently available.

The changing room

This project is the first in Scotland to be funded by the global men’s health charity, Movember Foundation. The Foundation raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programmes that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives.

The Changing Room exists both offline and online where men (age 30 to 64 years) have an innovative, inspirational and safe place where they can take action for their mental health. The aim is to increase the social connectedness of men in their middle years and deliver a programme of activity that will reduce loneliness and ultimately improve their mental health and wellbeing.