AFC Oldham Receives National Funding To Tackle Mental Health

AFC Oldham has been awarded national funding to tackle mental health through the power of sport and physical activity.

The club, which has secured funding through The National Lottery, will continue to support the community through their award-winning projects, Mental health Football and Mental health Walking.

The former, established by the first-team management duo of Ross Elliott and Andy Steel (pictured), was designed to provide a welcoming, supportive and judgement-free environment for residents of Oldham to take part in football and physical activity. 

The latter was created in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that came with the close proximity of playing football. The initiative provided residents with the chance to be active and socialise in a safe environment.

Such has been the positive reaction to both activities, professionals, groups and community organisations are now referring individuals to the projects to assist with their mental health.

The pot of funding will be specifically used to up-skill more volunteers to become accredited Mental Health First Aiders

Project founder and first-team manager, Ross Elliot said: "THE DEVELOPMENTS OF BOTH PROJECTS SINCE MYSELF AND ANDY STARTED THE INITIATIVES IS BOTH FANTASTIC BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATES THE NEED FOR GROUPS SUCH AS THIS ISN’T SLOWING DOWN. WE HAVE GONE FROM ENGAGING WITH AROUND 12 PARTICIPANTS A WEEK PRE-COVID TO ON AVERAGE 30-40 PER SESSION.

"FOOTBALL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HAVE PLAYED SUCH A HUGE ROLE IN MANY OF OUR LIVES AT THE CLUB, IT HAS GOT ME THROUGH SOME OF THE MORE DIFFICULT TIMES AND IT MAKES ME IMMENSELY PROUD TO SAY IT IS NOW MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND HELPING OTHERS TOO.

"THIS FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY WILL HELP TO SAFEGUARD THE PROJECT FOR THE LONG TERM FUTURE AS WELL AS ENHANCE THE SUPPORT WE CAN OFFER THE PARTICIPANTS. I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT THE CLUB AND EVERY PARTICIPANT AT THE SESSION WHEN I SAY I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY OF OLDHAM.”

For more information on the club and the services it offers, head to: https://afcoldham.co.uk/