Communities

'Merseyside visit helping combat mental health stigma'

7 Jan 2017
arsenal-everton-mental-health-match-070117

Participants from Arsenal's mental health programme enjoy a memorable trip to Everton

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The work of Premier League/BT Disability Sport programme was highlighted last month when participants from Arsenal in the Community mental health scheme travelled to Merseyside for a trip to remember.

Arsenal's players played peers from Everton in the Community in a special five-a-side match before watching the Gunners play Everton at Goodison Park.

The opportunity to bring participants from the two clubs together came about thanks to the PL/BT Disability Sport programme, which was launched earlier this year and seeks to create possibilities for disabled people through sport.

"Opportunities and experiences like this are essential for combating the stigma around mental health," said Luke Howard, disability officer at Arsenal in the Community. "For them to spend a day playing football with friends and then going to watch a Premier League football match is a great experience for them.

"It shows that irrelevant of the age, background or potential difficulties a person may have, we still have a huge amount in common."

Arsenal in the Community have worked in partnership with the Camden and Islington Mental Health Foundation Trust since 2011 and deliver twice weekly football sessions for local service users who are referred by clinicians.

The sessions concentrate on the wider wellbeing of the participants as well as their physical health.

Aside from the opportunity to play football, participants can get involved in Arsenal in the Community's employability programme as well as other workshops.

See: Everton in the Community saved my life

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